Even before the SEA Games started, Patafa president Go Teng Kok said he would hang himself if athletics fails to capture 10 gold medals although GTK's prediction looked realistic, some of his favored tracksters failed to deliver. John Lozada, Roy Vence and Allan Ballester didn't live up to expectations, as they were upset in events where they looked like sure winners. Cristabel Martes did her share when she annexed the women's marathon in 2:47:07, but Vence whose best time is 2:20:12 and Ballester with 2:23 were total disappointments, finishing second and third in 2:30:11 and 2:32:25 respectively. Thai Boonchoo Jandacha took the gold in 2:29:27. That's slow for SEA Games standards. Toto Cañete's best time of 2:27:15 registered in the Milo Marathon is even better. So will Mike Keon hang GTK? I'm offering my services to Michael. Well that is, if he agrees that I hang GTK upside down.
I don't know if it was the right decision to field Vertek Buenavista in the 5,000 and 10,000 meter events of the recently concluded SEA Games. Had I been the national coach for athletics, I would have fielded Milo Marathon champion Cresenciano Sabal or Vertek who now owns the national marathon record of 2:18:40. My protégé Vence and Ballester probably underestimated the Thai runner but I believe age is starting to creep on the two former SEA Games marathon champions. Vertek or Sabal could have easily won the marathon.
Just before he left for Japan for a much-awaited rematch, I bumped into Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) welterweight champion Rev "Bong" Santillan as we jogged near the hills of Alta Vista Golf Club in Pardo. Bong "my paisano" from Jaro, Iloilo was then preparing for his return bout with Kazuhiko Hidaka who took his crown in March via a fourth round knock out. I told Bong it's about time he reclaim his title and that I'm lacing his gloves with sleeping pills. I also told another Ilonggo friend Alex Vidal, editor in chief of the Daily Informer and international judge, not to come back without the belt. True enough Bong demolished Hidaka in eight rounds to bring back the championship. The sleeping pills work perfectly as the Japanese went to Dreamland. "Temprano pa ang pasko ni Bong". Good work champ.
| Laughter not the best Medicine |
When somebody at The Freeman editorial department informed me that publisher Nito Jabat was lying in a sickbed at the Cebu Doctors Hospital, I told the fellow it was great news since another friend was lying in a funeral home. The SEA Games we hosted prevented me from visiting Nito at the hospital although I was told several pretty women from the marketing department visited him who also brought flowers. Nito said at least he could still smell and touch the flowers. Dr. Romy Letigio said he doesn't know if Nito means it literally or symbolically. Romy said to take a look at Dr. Jovito Lee Sr., who's smelling and touching the flowers through the years and is still running strong at age 72. I also smell and touch flowers named roses and daisies myself. So Nits, I believe laugher is not always the best medicine, sometimes it's the flowers I guess. Get well Nits and throw away that cane.