MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Sports Writers Association commended the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation (PDBF) team after their triumph in the International Dragon Boat Federation World Championships in Tampa Bay, Florida.

The veteran sports writers and analysts expressed their admiration for the PDBF team, who won 5 gold medals and 2 silvers in the world championships.

The sports writers took note of the fact that the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) refuses to recognize the PDBF as a national team.

"Ganyan naman talaga dito sa bayan natin, palagi, politics interferes in sports," said Ronnie Nathanielsz.

Nathanielsz believes that the POC has no basis for not letting the PDBF team compete in the upcoming Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games).

Nathanielz has already written the International Canoe Federation, the governing body for canoe-kayak competitions, asking if the PDBF team can participate in the SEA Games.

"The International Canoe Federation told me emphatically, they have no objection. They will not protest if our dragon boat athletes represent the Philippines in the SEA Games," Nathanielz said.

"All they have to do is for the POC to submit their names, so why can't they do that?" he added.

Honors from Congress

Since arriving from the United States, the dragon boat team has been honored by numerous organizations.

The 12 soldiers who are part of the team were awarded by the Armed Forces of the Philippines last Monday.

Meanwhile, there are 16 resolutions in Congress congratulating the dragon boat rowers.

Each representative has already promised to contribute P5,000 for the team, amounting to P1.4-million.

The PDBF said that they wil use the money for the allowance of the dragon boat athletes.

In September, the team will hold an open tryouts in order to complete the 25-man boat team. -- Report from Gretchen Malalad, ABS-CBN News