Bloggers set record straight

The STAR’s bloggers, led by howlindave, pointed out an error that was reported in this column last Friday. The mistake was broadcaster T. J. Manotoc’s reference to Glenn McDonald and Aaron James as his father Tommy’s imports when U-Tex won its first PBA title in 1978.

Howlindave, webster69, ilouvem9, joey_escalera, vicongasis, pututuy, Caloyski, gwaps8, sibuyas and onions were some of the bloggers who took time to share their comments. One of the bloggers mentioned Snake Jones and Charlie Neal were Manotoc’s imports in 1978 but howlindave correctly named Jones and McDonald as the championship tandem. Jones and Neal played for U-Tex in 1977.

T. J. can’t be faulted for failing to remember. In his remarks at the PBA Press Corps Awards Night last Tuesday, he mentioned he was only a year old in 1978.

“Thirty years certainly seemed to have flown by just like that for my dad and some of you in this room,” said T. J. “He doesn’t actually feel that old, specially with all the brown rice and organic vegetable that he eats, and never even thought that the championship of 1978 is what it is today - 30 years old.

“Heck, I was alive, though one year old, and I think I remember the atmosphere of the games then, the cheering, the balloons, and yes, the helmet my yaya made me wear to protect me from the painful flying one peso coins.”

For the record, U-Tex beat Crispa in a sweep of the finals for the second conference title in 1978 with a cast that included Jones, McDonald, Lim Eng Beng, Rudy Hines, Rudy Kutch, Romeo Frank, Jimmy Noblezada, Ricky Pineda, Anthony Dasalla, Etok Lobo, Romy Cabading and Roy Deles.

T. J.’s anecdote of U-Tex’ overtime win after coming from four points down with 16 seconds left in regulation was over Toyota for the Open championship in 1980. The final score in the series clincher was 99-98. Manotoc’s players included McDonald, James, Rey Pages, Pineda and his brother Mollet, Bogs Adornado, Ompong Segura, Noblezada, Deles, Lim, Fritz Gaston, Dave Regullano, Jimmy Taguines, Oscar Rocha and Benjie Chua.

To The STAR’s bloggers, thanks for setting the record straight. You guys are awesome.

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Here are excerpts from Alaska CEO Fred Uytengsu’s speech on his Olympic views at the recent PBA Press Corps Awards Night:

“In the 1984 Games, China won 15 gold medals and finished fourth, just one gold more than Italy. This led to a systematic build-up by investing and picking sports that offered multiple medal opportunities.

“Fast forward to the Beijing Olympics and China won a total of 51 gold medals and 100 medals in all, making them the undisputed champion of those Olympics. What is important to note is that many of these medals came in sports that offer multiple medal opportunities such as diving, gymnastics, boxing, taekwondo, table tennis and shooting. And yes, China did win a few team medals as well but they have the financial war chest to support individual as well as team sports.

“If our desire is to win a medal or medals and hopefully, a gold medal, should we not make our investment in areas where we have multiple possibilities? And should we not focus on sports where we have a higher likelihood of success? Many of our Asian neighbors have already accepted this reality and have adopted strategies with success.”

Uytengsu pushed for a realistic assessment of the capabilities of Filipino athletes in specific Olympic sports and the formulation of a long-term program with the objective of winning medals in the Summer Games.

“If the focus is already on London, I regret to rain on this parade as it takes as many years to make a world champion and four years might not be enough,” he said.

Uytengsu cited STAR assistant sports editor Gerry Carpio’s report that most of Thailand’s 21 Olympic medals came from sports with multiple medal opportunities and that are suited for the Thai body type, like the lighter weight classes of boxing, weightlifting and taekwondo.

Uytengsu’s insights are a helpful guide for the country’s sports leaders seeking the right perspective to plan for the future.