PCG bobsledders make international debut in Austria
(Source: Consul Thelmo Cunanan Jr, PNBLSA President and CEO)
PCG: Two Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel made their international debut as the first bobsledders of the Philippines and Southeast Asia through joining the distinguished Europa Cup held at the Olympia Eiskanal in Igls, Tirol, Austria last 05 January 2018.
This was announced by Thelmo Cunanan Jr., President, and CEO of Philippine National Bobsled, Luge, and Skeleton Association (PNBLSA), Incorporated.
The Europa Cup, organized by the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF), is one of the world’s most prestigious and important annual bobsled competitions.
Seaman First Class Rolando Isidro PCG (bobsled pilot) and Seaman Second Class Jeffrey Dela Cruz PCG (brakeman), assigned at Coast Guard Special Service Office were guest participants of the IBSF and Olympiaworld Innsbruck. The Filipinos joined teams from around the world, including Germany, USA, Austria, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, Australia, Latvia, Serbia, Romania, Japan, and 2014 Olympic bobsled champion Russia. International bobsled powerhouse Germany dominated the event, with sweeping victories in both the two-man and two-woman bobsled divisions.
The Filipinos, the first team to go on the Eiskanal for the competition, got off to a rocky start. The Filipinos rallied and made a successful second run, finishing slightly behind Team Japan.
The bobsledders have been assigned with the PNBLSA Incorporated in a partnership agreement with the PCG, and have been training for the last four months at Olympiaworld Innsbruck, the highest sports authority in Tirol, Austria, which has generously provided the team with technical support and training.
Consul Cunanan is highly optimistic about the Philippines’ future success in bobsledding and related sports of luge and skeleton. After their successful Europa Cup debut, Isidro and Dela Cruz will compete in two more bobsled races, the Austria Cup and the Tirol Cup, before returning to the Philippines In March.
The objective of the PNBLSA is to further develop this sport and give our athletes more experience in the coming winter games seasons by training and competing in Beijing in 2022 and participating in other international competitions around the world.
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