Agot Isidro appeared to have sparked a debate on X (formerly Twitter), as she posted a question about lowering the allotted budget for basketball and instead, increasing the funding for gymnastics and weightlifting, which are perceived to be “lesser-known” sports among Filipinos.
On her X page, the actress wrote her controversial take late Monday morning, August 6, following the historic victory of gymnast Carlos Yulo at the ongoing Olympics in Paris.
“So [pwede] na ba natin bawasan ang sponsorship at funding ng basketball at idagdag na lang sa gymnastics, boxing, weightlifting?” Agot wrote.
Pinoy netizens quickly flooded Agot’s original post with mixed opinions, gaining 11,000 likes, and over 500 replies on the platform.
Some users agreed, suggesting that the country has “little chance of winning” in basketball at the Olympics and should instead focus on sports where there is a competitive edge.
Another noted that the focus is often on athletes after they win, highlighting the many incentives for medalists. They argue that there should also be a focus on training and facilities, as advocated by Pinoy athletes, for better treatment and facilities.
On the other side, some voiced that it’s possible to support all sports without “devaluing” basketball, which they described has the highest market value and has “proven success” over the years.
Moreover, another argued that sports are a cultural matter, and basketball has been a significant part of Filipino culture. They believe support for basketball should continue while also building grassroots efforts for other sports like gymnastics, boxing, and weightlifting to integrate them into the culture.
Others stressed that funds allocation should be equal across all sports to ensure fair treatment.
The question came after Carlos Yulo’s second gold during the men’s vault finals, sending the Philippines to the 19th spot of the Olympian medal rankings.
The country may climb further as Filipino boxers Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas are assured of medals for reaching their semifinals.
Previously, Filipina weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz won the country’s first Olympic gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
