by Moses P. Billacura
Sen. Manny Villar has bankrolled billiards tournaments even before we learned that he is running for president.
To intensify his presence in the sports arena, he goes into swimming and basketball and has even appointed Darren Evangelista of the Evangelista Aquatics and Sports Management Inc. to head the organizing committee in Mindanao.
Good luck Mr.Senator.
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Suddenly, sports tournaments, left and right, are being organized.
It is obvious. The May 2010 election is fast approaching.
But we hope that even after the polls and specially if the candidates are elected, they will continue holding competitions and organize more tournaments specially for the youth.
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Butch Ramirez has established the Basketball Scientific Training Center (BSTC) even before the Milo BEST Training started.
The BSTC stopped when Butch joined the government service but when he went home after a stint in the Philippine Sports Commission, he went back to basketball coaching under the auspices of a non-government organization he established which is called the Sports for Peace Mindanao Inc.
This time, it is the out-of-school youth and the street children that are being trained.
This is something new.
The Sports for Peace Mindanao Basketball Clinics started last summer and because of the invitations of barangay leaders, Butch and his volunteers go the areas to start teaching basketball for free with a plus.
The plus is that the parents who bring their children to the clinics are also being taught the basics of sports leadership. Butch is not only back to basketball but is back teaching again.
Butch taught at the Ateneo de Davao University where he also ran the sports program before joining the national sports agency in November 2000.
“Maayong pamatasan importante na sa isports,” Butch would tell them. And so, when instructions are given, they follow and if they don’t they are told to go home. Fortunately, they listen and finish the basketball session.
It was a beautiful sight.
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Al Ryan Alejandre has been backing teams through the DMMA College of Southern Philippines Sports Scholarship Program.
Not all colleges in Davao have a sports scholarship program but for a small college like DMMA, Al Ryan managed to keep the program.
DMMA is a member of the Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) so Al Ryan travels with his athletes when they compete in the National PRISAA Championships.
During a national championship, a player asked “Who is that guy?” pointing his finger to Al Ryan. The other athlete would reply, “His family runs the DMMA”.
“Why is he staying in the classroom with the athletes? He is an official, he should stay in a hotel,” the player responded. The athlete replied, “He is one of us”.
Lining up to use the bath room and the shower room with the other athletes may sound weird to you. But for Al Ryan he does not mind.As leader of the DMMA athletes, he showed that he can live with them, eat with them, rejoice with them in victory and even cry with them when they lose.
No wonder, DMMA athletes are excelling in the field of sports.
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Vic Calanas of the Metro Davao Table Tennis Association (Medatta) has been doing the work for Friendee Nunez as secretary-general. Friendee got promoted as head teacher in a far-flung school so Vic took over for the meantime.
Vic was particularly impressed with how table tennis development has greatly improved in Cebu and Iloilo. Their counterparts there were able to find well-meaning and moneyed table tennis lovers who hired trainors to handle their youth program.
The malls became also their playing venues in order for the public to be aware that table tennis is a very exciting and attractive sport for the youth.
Vic wished that this kind of program will happen in Davao City.
Dr.Louie Metran, the Medatta president, is not a rich sports leader but I am sure that when he taps the right people to do a similar youth program, we will have a new Michael Dalumpines to build. Michael was the best junior player from Davao City who became a member of the national team in the late 1980’s.
After that, I have not heard of any Davao City player who became a member of the national squad.
It is time to have a year-round junior table tennis program to produce top caliber athletes who will soon become members of the national squad and earn a spot to represent our country to the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. And if he gets lucky, he qualifies to the Asian Games and maybe, who knows, in the Olympics.
Vic as acting secretary-general of Medatta can start working on his wish. There are people in Davao City who will be willing to help you.
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Manong Tony Ajero, our editor in chief and Greg Deligero, our associate editor, paid their last respects to Reynaldo Magno Teves at the Cosmopolitan Funeral Parlor one evening.
The room was overflowing with flowers that surrounded his casket.
I could not forget Sir Rey during one reunion of San Pedro Express staff called by former publisher Leonilo “LGC” Claudio. He brightened the gathering with his singing and guitar playing.
In the next Express gathering, he will be dearly missed. Our condolences to the family of Sir Rey.
