7-time gold medalist Baylon to carry RP flag at 24th SEA Games

Seven-time Southeast Asian (SEA) Games gold medalist John Baylon was chosen as the Philippine flag bearer in the 24th edition of the biennial games this December in Thailand. This was revealed by SEA Games Task Force co-chairman Ricardo Garcia of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) in an interview Thursday. Garcia likewise revealed that the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) Executive Board members who were in attendance at the POC office at the Philsports in Pasig City unanimously agreed to give the honor of bearing the flag to Baylon. "Siya ang kinuha dahil sa maganda niyang record. Karapat-dapat naman dahil maganda ang record niya sa SEAG at senior athlete din siya ng delegation," Garcia said. The 41-year-old Baylon is also a two-time Olympian. He holds the record for winning the gold medal in his seven straight SEA Games campaign. He hopes to make it eight in a row. According to Garcia, the other athletes who were considered for the honor were 2005 Philippine SEA Games multi-medalist swimmer Miguel Molina, rower Benjie Tolentino, SEA Games and Asian Games gold medalist pool player Antonio Gabica, boxer Joan Tipon, bowler Biboy Rivera, and taekwondo jin Tshomlee Go for the honor of being the flag bearer. Garcia added that SEA Games bowling gold medalist Markwin Tee will be the Philippine's flag bearer in the 2nd Asian Indoor Games which will be held in Macau starting this Oct. 26. - GMANews.TV