A beaming Mary Joy Tabal shows the gold medal she won in the ongoing Southeast Asian Games and a framed front page of Cebu Daily News which carried the story of her women’s marathon victory after the livestreamed interview at the CDN office yesterday. The CDN staff also gifted Joy and her coach John Philip Dueñas with Guyito stuffed toys.
CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)
Cebuana marathoner Mary Joy Tabal returned to the loving embrace of admiring Cebuanos Friday night from her gold medal conquest in the 29th Southeast Asian (Sea) Games in Kuala, Lumpur, Malaysia.
“I’m very thankful and happy for all your support which helped me to get this gold medal,” Tabal said, flashing the shining metal hanging around her neck during Friday’s welcome party at the Ssangyong showroom in Gorordo Ave., Cebu City.
Among those who graced the welcome party were Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Commissioner Ramon Fernandez, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, Cebu City Councilor Jerry Guardo, Cebu City Sports Commission (CCSC) Chairman Edward Hayco and Motor Ace President Jonel Borromeo.
Continuing support
Borromeo, whose company, Motor Ace Philippines, bankrolled Tabal’s training abroad, said he had no doubt that Tabal will win the gold because of the latter’s hardwork and dedication.
“I can say that all your training and perseverance paid off. I had no doubt that gold is for you. It is well worth it because of all the hardships you had gone through,” he said.
Borromeo said that they will keep on supporting Tabal until the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
The PSC is also throwing its support behind the Brgy. Guba native who blasted the field in winning the SEAG women’s marathon gold.
“We are indeed very lucky because we have Motor Ace Kawasaki who took care of Tabal. My hats off to Jonel Borromeo and coach John Philip Dueñas, you are behind the success of Tabal,” said PSC Commissioner and PBA legend Ramon Fernandez.
“The PSC will support Tabal all the way until she retires,” said Fernandez.
Mayor Tom shells out 500K
Mayor Osmeña meanwhile, called Tabal a model that should be emulated by the Cebuano youth. He gave the 28-year-old long distance runner P500,000 in incentives.
“She’s the kind of model for the youth. The City Government will set aside for her P500,000 cash. Hopefully this will encourage other people to try to excel,” said Osmeña. “On behalf of the City Government of Cebu we want to congratulate and thank Joy for being a true model.”
Tabal won the country’s first gold medal in the 29th Sea Games last Aug. 19 by clocking 2 hours, 48 minutes 26 seconds, beating by a mile Vietnam’s Hoang Thi Thanh (2:55:43) and deposed champion Natthaya Thanaronnawat (2:58:17) of Thailand.
Tabal won silver in her Sea Games debut in 2015 in Singapore.
Tabal’s next big races are the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia (Aug. 18 to Sept. 2), the 2019 Sea Games and the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Tabal said she will take a short rest before leaving for Tuscany, Italy this October to train for two months. She will return to Cebu on December to gun for her fifth title in the National Milo Marathon Finals on Dec. 3 in Cebu City.
Tabal and her coach John Philip Dueñas visited Cebu Daily News (CDN) yesterday where their livestreamed interview generated more than 4,000 views in just four hours.