2011 SEA Games medalists receive cash rewards

Iris Rañola and 168 other medalists in the 2011 Southeast Asian Games received their cash incentives on Wednesday in a ceremony at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall.   Rañola emerged as the Philippine team's top grosser after receiving P200,000 for winning the women's 8-ball and 9-ball gold medals in billiards competitions held in Palembang, Indonesia.   Bowler Frederick Ong placed second with P195,000 built around one gold (singles), three silvers (doubles, masters and team of five) and a bronze (trios).   Wesley So of chess and fin swimming's Danielle Faith Torres both had the third-highest cash incentives with P150,000 each.   So grabbed the gold medal in the men's individual blitz then added the silver in the men's individual standard event, while Torres claimed the women's 50m surface gold and the 100m surface silver.   A total of P8,060,000 went to the 36 gold, 56 silvers and 77 bronze medal winners while P4,030,000 went to their coaches based on Republic Act 9064 or the Sports Benefits and Incentives Act of 2001.   According to the law, gold medalists are entitled to receive P100,000 for every medal won, while a silver and bronze medal winners will take home P50,000 and P10,000 each.   The funds for the cash incentives came from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), under the Philippine Sports Commission's (PSC) National Sports Development Fund (NSDF).   "We want to congratulate all the athletes for a job well done," said PSC commissioner Chito Loyzaga, who spoke in behalf of PSC chairman Ritchie Garcia after his son recently died of a heart attack. — JVP, GMA News