Azkals visits Albay for a break

by Mar S. Arguelles

LEGAZPI CITY, Aug. 17 -- “I have never dated a Filipina, maybe in the future I might go into a relationship but right now I am more focused on playing good football,” this was the assertion by Jason Sabio, one of the five Philippine Azkals that visited this city.

Sabio, in an interview, said he looks forward to having a relationship with a Filipina but he was quick to say that this (relationship) would be set aside because he is concentrated more on playing football.

Sabio, 25, single, a Filipino-American from Alabama, USA, with Filipino parents, his father is from Marikina while his mother is from Koronadal, South Cotabato in Mindanao.

Asked if the group failure to get the World Cup Football qualifying was because they were more involved in socializing with celebrities rather than training well for the competition, he flatly denied the allegation, saying that the team worked hard and remains focused.

He claimed that despite the two months rigid training, the Kuwait team was very strong for us to handle.

“Despite the upset, our team remained focused and played with one goal,” Sabio said.

Asked what’s in store for the Philippine Dragon Boat Team having won five gold medals in the United States International Boat competition without any government support, he said government support would not come quickly.

He said “in 2004 when the Azkals started our team and the Philippine Dragon Boat team were on the same boat, we had no support from the government but as we moved on, government and private support came in.”

“As the team grew and football was considered one of the country’s national as well as international sports events, private sponsorship and government support and recognition came in,” he said.

Sabio, together with Ricardo Becite, Nate Burkey, Patrick Ace Bright and Richard Pacana, including the crew of Sports Unlimited, arrived here for a three-day holiday.

The team visited Embarcadero Mall and tried the malls Zipline and Go-Cart raising ground, then they trek the famous Lignon Hill where one can view the entire city.

The team would stay for a day at the Misibis Bay Resort and luxury island resort in Bacacay, Albay.

The Azkals' two-day stay at the Misibis Resort would be hosted by Zaldy Co, president and CEO of the Sunwest Group, a corporation that operates the Misibis Bay Resort, Embarcadero Mall and hotels Venezia and Saint Ellis here.

The Azkals return to action in the Long Teng Cup starting September 28 in Taiwan. The team will be a mix of the seniors team and the Under-23 squad preparing for the Indonesia Southeast Asian Games in November.

The Azkals saw their World Cup qualifying run end last July 28 when they lost to Kuwait, 1-5, on aggregate in the second round.

Still, they already made history by reaching the second round after beating Sri Lanka in their first World Cup qualifying tie in close to 10 years.