Tour de Southern Leyte

The richest cycling event in the region, the Tour de Southern Leyte, will be held from June 25-29, 2010. This event is just one of the many lined up for the biggest event in the province of Southern Leyte, the Founding Anniversary of the Province.

The Maasin City Cycling Club, led by Dr. Wency Rich, is spearheading the event sponsored by the provincial government. In case you don’t know it yet, this isn’t the first time that the local government has sponsored a bicycle race. Recognition should also be given to Governor Damian Mercado and his brother, Congressman Roger Mercado, for supporting this event.

The TdSL consists of a MTB event on day 1 and the TdM, a 4-day, 5-stage road race which will traversed through the whole of Leyte province.

Unlike the roads of Cebu City, Southern Leyte’s road network feels like a pair of newly ironed slacks so cyclists shouldn’t have much problem with mechanicals. Traffic is almost non-existent but if there are any, it’s very respectful to the athletes. I should know because my wife, Tata, is from Leyte and we lived there for about a year before moving here for good.

NBA FINALS

Phil Jackson and Doc Rivers, coaches of the LA Lakers and the Boston Celtics respectively, has been complaining about the number of fouls and the number of free throws the opposing team has been getting. Of course, you don’t have to be an Einstein to figure out that both are trying to influence the actions of the referees to their teams favor. However, I think that these complaints are more ridiculous than the Derek Fisher’s alleged flopping because there will always be a discrepancy in the number of fouls between teams. What’s next, an equal number quota on fouls and free throws per team? How about quota on shot attempts?......I don’t know what to think about the play review in the last two minutes of the NBA Finals today except that it delays the game and takes away its momentum. If you ask me, David Stern should look at the National Football League rules regarding replays. In the NFL, each coach is afforded two challenges each half for perceived wrong calls. If the coach is wrong, the team loses one timeout. If the challenge is correct, the team doesn’t lose a timeout. In this way, coaches will have to be judicious in making a challenge.

RACE RESULTS 6/12/2010 MANDAUE RECLAMATION AREA

CAT B: 1- BOY PAGNANAWON, 2- EDGAR OMPOC, 3- RAMON ESPINOSA, 4- RICKY ERMITANIO, 5- JEROME RODRIGUEZ

CAT C: 1- NONOY ABASOLA, 2- TYRE LAMBO, 3- HEIDE ESMALIN, 4- RONALD NAVARRO, 5- TATA MATUDAN

Finally, thanks to Dr. Rodney Rubi for sponsoring our crit last Saturday at the Mandaue Rekla. Dr. Rodney, grew up in Forest Hills, Banawa is now practicing medicine in Missouri, USA with his wife. He’s in Cebu for a three week R and R (rest and race!) with his family. Welcome home, Doc! – THE FREEMAN