A weekend of sports

If you are a sports fan, this weekend, you should be in Cebu.

From the top of my head there are two reasons for such – the Davis Cup match between the Philippines and Chinese-Taipei and the America in 3D baseball clinic.

The two events are only among the many that are taking place and if you enjoy basketball, you can also check out the games of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI).

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Get a chance to cheer for the Philippine team in the Davis Cup action set at the clay court of Plantation Bay Resort and Spa.

The Philippines is a slight favorite over Chinese Taipei, but then the hometown advantage won’t be there without the fans to support our players.

Matches would start on Friday and are scheduled to run until Sunday if necessary.

While I fully support events like this, I was kind of disappointed with the plan to close a portion of the Marcelo Fernan Bridge to promote the activity.

It was good that the organizers themselves realized that such idea might backfire and cancelled it due to concerns about traffic.

This is another good reason to drive to Mactan this weekend. I admit that since I live quite far from Lapu-Lapu City, I need a very good reason to go there from the main island of Cebu.

Aside from knowing that I would enjoy the tennis action, it is also a good time to again visit Plantation Bay and my good friend GM Efren Belarmino.

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Another event that you should check out is the America in 3D baseball clinic at the Aboitiz Sports Field in Subangdaku, Mandaue City.

This is a two-day event set on Saturday and Sunday and will feature a baseball clinic for children.

Ambassador Harry Thomas will lead the US Embassy officials, who will be coming over. 

Baseball used to be a very popular sport in this country, but America’s number one pastime lost its appeal to the Filipinos as the years passed.

If you take a close look at those who were enshrined into the Cebu Sports Hall of Fame, we had many top baseball players from Cebu during the first half of the 20th century.

Thanks to the passion of Jesse Bernad of Fastball Ventures, the sport is getting some attention again lately.

Earlier this year, no less than the legendary Ken Griffey, Jr. came to Cebu, thanks again to the US Embassy, to conduct a clinic.

Although I only played softball in high school and college, I enjoy baseball and follow the New York Yankees. 

See you also at the Aboitiz Sports Field this weekend.

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MILESTONES: Belated happy birthday greetings to those who turned a year older last Monday like cousins Maricor Aparte-Dans and Noriviena Bersales-Philips, Neptali Biolena, Glynis Rea ‘Ging’ Diano, and Toni Legaspi-Tan.

The same goes to those who celebrated yesterday especially Carla Ybañez-Veloso, Cdr. Christopher Villacorte, Jigger Cañedo, Victoria Fernandez, Ralston Norman ‘Al’ Rallon, Jeralyn Cañares, Mafe Castillo, and my niece Yen Acas.

Today’s greetings go to Atty. Marie de la Serna-Teves.

More power to all of you! - THE FREEMAN