Missed events

I have been under the weather since last week and have missed many activities including two big sporting events last Saturday and Monday.

But, after reading the commentary about last Saturday’s match at the Hoopsdome in Lapu-Lapu City, I’m glad I was forced to stay home to recuperate.

Punching with the mouth never counts once inside the ring and I am glad that AJ Banal did beat Tyson Cave where it mattered most – during the actual fight.

That was the seventh installment of the Pinoy Pride Series, but I’m sure it will not stop the boxing fans from trooping to the next one.

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When I was actively covering the events as a sportswriter, I’ve had my share of bad experiences in boxing promotions that included being around the ring when fans pelted it with all sorts of stuff and watching bouts that were mismatches.

Of course, I had more pleasant experiences from those days that I will be taking with me wherever I may be.

There were some foreign boxers that were impressive and some that hardly made their Pinoy opponent sweat.

Promoters definitely would want to give the audience something to enjoy, but the records don’t really mean much if on the day of the bout, the boxer is not as ready as his opponent.

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Last Monday, the 2011 edition of the country’s biggest volleyball tournament was launched at the Cebu Provincial Capitol.

I am referring to the Gov. Gwendolyn F. Garcia Unity Volleyball (GUV) Cup.

With the different towns and cities of the province participating and with the huge cash prizes at stake, there is no other volleyball tournament around the country that can compare to the GUV Cup.

The tournament will officially start next month and with the changes that are being implemented we hope to develop more future stars for the Philippine national team.

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Volleyball was introduced to the Philippines by Americans.

But the spike, which is the most potent of attacks used in the sport, was originally called as the Filipino Bomb.

Yes, the Philippines and volleyball go a long way. 

If you go to the towns, you will appreciate how much the sport has been embraced by the people.

If in the past, the one-touch (dayon-dayon) format was most popular in the towns, now they know the international standards of volleyball because of the GUV Cup.

I remain hopeful that someday, football would also get a similar chance from the province to be pushed in all towns and component cities.

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MILESTONES: Belated happy birthday greetings to Carl Senen Veloso, who turned a year older last Saturday.

Belated greetings also go to my Tao brother Aaron Mangoroban and the Chester Benedict Go, who celebrated last Monday.

The same goes to those who turned a year older yesterday like my cousin Kimble Lebumfacil, my mistah Jay Divino, Dr. Richard Condor, and my classmates Celeste Tan and John Roel Desuyo.

 More power to all of you! - THE FREEMAN