Clean Slate – Cholo and Kitsi

by Moses Belacura

 

I spent my first two years in college at the Ateneo de Davao University.
And, just like other ordinary guys in the crowd, we trooped to the gym for any basketball game. And if it was the Humanities Division team scheduled to play, we made sure that we were there to cheer our classmates.
In those years, Bong Aportadera, now our city tourism officer, and Neil Bravo, now back as a sports columnist, was the best tandem doing the blow-by-blow coverage and game analysis.
The gym became also the battlefield between Ateneo and fierce rival Holy Child High during the heyday of the Milo BEST Basketball Tournament.
I left Ateneo because we could no longer afford the high cost of tuition fee, and transferred to Holy Cross with my two buddies, Schmid V. Apat, who later on became a businessman, and Randy F. Babao, now a lawyer with Napolcom.
Then I started doing coverage work for the San Pedro Express of publisher Leonilo G. Claudio who would call his secretary, Mila, to prepare the check when it was time for me to pay my tuition fee.
It was during those years that I laid eyes on two outstanding players who in later years would become top Ateneo de Davao coaches. I am referring to Pocholo “Cholo” Elegino, a well-built pointguard, and Leonardo Paquito “Kitsi” Avila, then a lean power forward.
Last September27, Kitsi, a rookie coach and current president of E-Squared Events, steered his team to victory over Holy Child in the Milo BEST Passarelle Division-Davao finals, 78-77. This is another high school basketball title for Ateneo after 10 years. Kitsi and his junior Blue Knights will represent Southern Mindanao in the Milo BEST Regional Finals on Oct.16 to 18 in Gen. Santos City.
Three days later, Ateneo scored another upset. This time in the collegiate division, when Cholo engineered a 91-82 win against the multi-titled University of Mindanao in the Champion’s League-Davao finals.
The victories did not come very easy. The early morning practices, summer training, conditioning, well, I could imagine the sacrifices that they underwent to lift Ateneo’s banners high. Players get their inspiration from their coaches, and when they play, oh my, they are like fierce ancient warriors on the battlefield fighting for a just cause against all odds.
Cholo, who abbreviated his colorful career with a knee injury to go into coaching and teaching physical education, and his battle weary Blue Knights will advance to the Champion’s League-Mindanao finals on Oct.6 to 8 at the Gaisano South Sky gym against the champions of  Zamboanga, Gen. Santos and Cagayan de Oro cities.
This month, Fr.Oscar A. Millar, S.J., will have a busy time praying for the good hyealth and success of the two coaches and the players. They need it, Father.

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