Nobody understands athletes better than their fellow athletes.
That is what Eumir Marcial pointed out in his Facebook post Sunday, where he shared that Thirdy Ravena had reached out to him and offered help in the wake of his recent grievance about the lack of support for his Tokyo Olympics stint.
The 25-year-old, last May 12, responded to the Philippine Sports Commission’s statements that it continues to provide financial backing, saying that his P43,000 monthly allowance isn’t enough to cover his training expenses.
Marcial posted the message Ravena had sent him.
“Nakita ko yung post mo sa social media, gusto ko lang sana itanong kung pwede makitulong kahit maliit na halaga lang sa mga pangangailangan niyo. Gusto ko kayo manalo ng team niyo,” it read.
The middleweight sensation has nothing but gratitude to the young basketball star, who recently inked a multi-year extension with San-en NeoPhoenix in the Japan B.LEAGUE after an injury-riddled rookie season.
“I received this message days ago from one of the phenomenal athletes in the Philippines. The only person who can understand us most is our fellow athletes, and who understands our sacrifices for the country,” he wrote.
“I hope that idol Thirdy Ravena will become an inspiration and will influence other Filipino athletes to help one another in different ways. I also wish that it can influence sports lovers and most especially our sports leaders.”
Marcial, who’s one of the first Filipino athletes to qualify for the Summer Games, has been busy in his hometown of Zamboanga City preparing for the world’s most prestigious sporting event set on July 23-August 8.
For his part, Marcial wishes Ravena and every Filipino athlete luck both here and abroad.
“Mabuhay ka idol! Mabuhay ang atletang Pilipino. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas.”
Back in March, Thirdy’s brother Kiefer also helped out a fellow Team Pilipinas teammate in Irish Magno. Magno is also slated to compete in Tokyo.
