ORMOC CITY Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez encouraged local government units to begin investing in grassroots sports now instead of waiting for ideal conditions, saying sustained action is what creates long-term success.
Speaking after the city’s Sports and Youth Summit, Torres-Gomez said Ormoc’s sports transformation began not because everything was already in place, but because the city decided to take the first step.
“There is no perfect time. We only have now. If the dream is so big, you’ll always think you have to get everything right first before you begin,” according to Lucy.
She said Ormoc would not have reached its current level of sports development had the city waited for ideal circumstances.
“If we waited for all things to be perfect before we actually started, we’d never be where we are today,” she said.
The mayor urged other cities and municipalities to maximize whatever resources they currently have instead of delaying sports development.
“You have to do what you can with what you have now.”
Torres-Gomez likened the process to taking a leap of faith, saying progress comes from learning while moving forward.
“It’s like jumping off a plane and reading the manual while you’re already in the air. If you wait for the perfect time, there will always be something missing. Just begin now,” she continued.
Ormoc recently concluded its Sports and Youth Summit and formally received a new boxing gym from the Philippine Sports Commission, while the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines also proposed making the city the regional boxing training center for Eastern Visayas as it continues to strengthen its grassroots sports program. (Jesus Nathaniel Valdez)
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Filipino-American guard Remy Martin is set to make his debut for a Philippine club team after being named to the Strong Group-Pilipinas roster for the 2026 William Jones Cup in Taiwan.
Martin strengthens a squad seeking a third straight championship in the annual international tournament, a feat that has not been achieved since Iran won three consecutive titles from 2009 to 2011.
Strong Group president Jacob Lao said the organization had long pursued the former US NCAA champion before finally reaching an agreement for him to join the team.
“Over the past four years of competing overseas, one name kept coming up wherever we went — Remy Martin. We listened. That’s why we’re proud to bring Remy to Strong Group,” Lao said.
“He’s a proven winner, a champion, and someone we believe embodies the standard we’re striving for as we continue to represent the Philippines on the international stage.”
Martin rose to prominence in the United States after helping the University of Kansas capture the 2022 NCAA Division I championship. During his collegiate career, he earned two All-Pac-12 First Team honors and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2022 NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional.
The 6-foot guard has since continued his professional career overseas, playing for Greek club Lavrio before moving to Iceland, where he helped Keflavík reach the top of the domestic league.
Head coach Charles Tiu welcomed Martin’s addition, saying the team’s long-standing recruitment efforts had finally paid off.
“I’m pleased we finally worked things out with Remy. I’ve been looking to recruit him for quite some time, but our schedules just didn’t align until now,” Tiu said.
“He’s really excited to come play for us, and he wants to win. I’m excited to have the opportunity to work with him.”
Also joining the squad is Puerto Rico national team veteran Isaiah Piñeiro, a versatile 6-foot-7 forward with professional experience in the NBA G League, Latvia, Turkey, Spain and Puerto Rico.
Tiu believes Piñeiro’s all-around game will fill a key role similar to that of former Strong Group import Andre Roberson.
“We wanted another (Andre) Roberson-type player—someone who can do everything for us,” Tiu said.
“He’s a glue guy who can shoot, play in the post, and defend. He’s been a fixture on the national team, and we’re looking forward to seeing what he brings to our team.”
Returning players Dave Ildefonso, DJ Fenner, Angelo Kouame, Tajuan Agee, Allen Liwag and Titing Manalili will again suit up for Strong Group, while former NBA center Boban Marjanović headlines the roster. Matthew Wright, William Navarro and Shaun Ildefonso are also set to make their Strong Group debuts.
Strong Group has been grouped with Chinese Taipei Blue, South Korea and Japan in the preliminary round of the tournament, which will run from Aug. 8 to 23 at Xinzhuang Gymnasium in New Taipei City, Taiwan. (Adrian Co)
The post Strong-Group Pilipinas adds Fil-Am Remy Martin in Jones Cup 3-peat bid first appeared on Fastbreak.
