PH surfer proves there’s more to SEA Games than winning

The 30th SEA Games may be riddled with controversies, but our faith to it has been restored. Our Filipino spirit lives in Roger Casugay as he sets aside his chance of the gold medal. Why? To save a fellow surfer from Indonesia who encountered an accident in the middle of the round.

“In the midst of the men’s longboard open competition for surfing, Indonesia’s Arip Nurhidayat broke his leash and was swept away by the waves,” a netizen posted on Facebook after witnessing the incident in Monalisa Pt., San Juan, La Union.

Of course, this didn’t go unnoticed by the SEA Games organizers and shared it on their official page.

“The Philippines’ Roger Casugay came to the rescue, setting aside the ongoing battle for the gold. This is how #WeWinAsOne,” they added. Meanwhile, they postponed the second match of the men’s longboard open following what happened.

Rogelio Esquievel Jr, on the other hand, scored 17.35 for the country prior to the announcement. This stands a close call with that of Indonesia’s Dean Permana garnering 10.50 for the first match of the tournament.

We salute the sportsmanship exemplified by Roger Casugay. With or without a medal, you have earned every Filipino and athlete’s respect. Thank you for showing that it is not about reaching the finish line but how you get there that matters.