Pacquiao boosts morale of Filipino athletes in Guangzhou Asiad

Remain strong and pray.

This was the advice of the Fighting Congressman of Sarangani to Filipino athletes competing in the ongoing 16th Asian Games in Guangzho, China.

"Lahat ng atletang Pinoy lakasin ninyo ang loob ninyo. (Pero) kung walang kasamang pagdasal mahirap makamit ang pangarap mo. Kailangan ang pagdasal, kasama sa training iyan (To our athletes, remain strong. But include prayer in your training. It will be hard to achieve your goals if you do not pray)," said Pacquiao.

He said training is not only mental and physical but also spiritual.

Filipino athletes' bid for a gold medal the games was stalled Friday as only Thsomlee Go in men's taekwondo averting a medal shutout by winning a bronze in the under-63 kg event. 

Bowler Biboy Rivera and cue-artist Dennis Orcollo gave the country its first two gold medals while billiards player Warren Kiamco and golfer Miguel Tabuena handed the 117-strong athletes two silvers.

Aside from Ong, sanshou artist Mark Eddiva, the dancesports pair Ronnie Vergara and Charlea Lagaras, and taekwondo jins Tshomlee Go, Kirstie Elaine Alora, John Paul Lizardo and Paul Romero won bronze medals. – JVP, GMANews.TV