by Moses Billacura
Coach Oying, the former HCDC Crusader under then head coach Butch Ramirez, is busy with badminton these days, aside from leading a basketball team in the City Hall Employees Sports Club Inter-Color Basketball Tournament at the AMA Computer College gym.
Last December 19 at the Wheels N More court, Oying came to check the smooth conduct of the Pahalipay sa Pasko Inter-Office Badminton Tournament, an event he initiated with the help of friends.
Arlene Perez and Teresa Nuera won the women’s doubles title at the expense of Elvera Cahayag and Asuncion Villaver. The Tina Sarenas-Eileen Clemencio tandem settled for third place.
Dennis Guintadcan and Joseph Magallanes bagged the men’s crown after beating Charles Heteroza and Sony Manaopanao. Greg Barlis and Edwin Caballes took the runner-up honors.
I hope in next year’s Pahalipay, more Dabawenyos will take up the sport. You don’t actually need an expensive racket and shuttlecock to enjoy it, all you have to do is just to start joining and stay fit like Atty. J. Marvin “Oying” Melodias, who just turned another leaf last December 21. He didn’t give me his age. Secret.
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For the first time, Ateneo de Davao University Blue Knights coach Cholo Elegino clinched the Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) Davao City title, renamed for the meantime as the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Palaro-Davao City eliminations.
The University of Mindanao was leading by 21 points only to gradually lose the lead. In the end, Blue Knight Richard Madelo scored on a lay up, 77-75, one minute and 46 seconds remaining.
Madelo was zero out of eight attempts from the three-point area but he dropped the biggest bomb by sinking the most important three-pointer that entirely changed the complexion of the game, 80-76, 43 seconds remaining.
Martin Allan Gadia hit two gift shots, 82-76, and the UM Wildcats were finally tamed.
Arnold Adormeo had tried to keep UM in contention but the enemy’s small guards, Jarius Lloyd Guingguing and Gadia were relentless in defense, stealing balls from the Wildcats.
Undermanned but high in fighting spirits, the Blue Knights, inspired by a host of beautiful lady fans from Ateneo, prayers from university president Fr. Samson and long-time basketball supporter Fr. Millar, never gave up.
For the firs time, I saw coach Cholo in an emotional state. He shed tears of joy, with his dad and uncle watching him win for Ateneo. He could not believe they were the new champions.
“We just did not give up,” said Cholo after the game last Dec. 22 at the Holy Cross of Davao College gym.
Miggy Solitaria led Ateneo with 28 points but fouled out with two minutes and 43 seconds remaining. Maybe, his absence was a blessing because their main man was out of the game.
UM coach Ondo Conda admitted that his young players could no longer handle the pressure in the dying minutes unlike in the first half when they were full of confidence.
Lawyer Manny Nitorreda, the former head coach, was not happy with the referee’s work and expressed his disgust by walking onto the court after the game. But chief referee Loloy Baliong said that the referees did their best.
Anyway, in the women’s division, as expected UM won over Brokenshire College, 89-47, while Agro College bagged the third spot at the expense of Holy Cross of Davao College, 88-85, in the men’s division.
Ateneo and UM will represent Davao City to the CHED Palaro Regional finals on January 8 to 10, 2010, and hopefully earn spots in the National CHED Palaro on February 22 to 28 in Manila.
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A bountiful New Year to all!
