Serendipity! A one-on-one basketball game
A few columns ago, I wrote on a personal indignation. My objective mind would have prevailed upon me from writing on the insult, nay curse, heaped by people not politically aligned with Atty. Eduardo "Eddiegul" Gullas, the president of the university where I teach Constitutional Law. The distinct possibility of being bias was understandably there so that objectively, I should have stayed away from the topic.
Sadly, I could not stay idly by. It was impermissible for me for people to say unchristian remarks on Sir Eddiegul. Specially so, if they attempt to mislead others into thinking that my university president is unable to walk anymore such that he needed aides holding him up when he filed his Certificate of Candidacy. I could not just accept lies and do nothing to rectify the falsehood. My best avenue to share the truth was writing on this column to inform the whole world that the former congressman (also former Cebu governor and Talisay City mayor) is very active physically as he still shoots basketball and sharp mentally that he recollects events with incredible clarity and discusses ideas with intellectual depth.
In my effort to demonstrate the fact of Sir Eddiegul's healthy status, and in the process, expose the lie peddled by his political adversaries, I asked, in this column, the CESAFI, the Basketball Association of the Philippines and the PBA to organize a one-on-one basketball game between His Honor, Talisay City Mayor Johnny de los Reyes and Atty. Gullas. The game, if it should take place really, should be an equalizer on the great disparity between the former and the latter's educational credentials and governmental experience.
Lo and behold, I got more than what I hoped for. Serendipity! Sir Eddiegul called me up (I was then at my little cubicle as the Associate Dean of the College of Law), and requested me to see him in his office. When I met my university president, I could see his face lit up with unconcealed delight.
To my delightful surprise, Sir Eddiegul said he was in favor of the basketball game that I wrote about. Really, mine was just a mischievous thought that I never imagine to be received well by him. Perhaps to recall the scrimmages he played with the late World Basketball Cup veteran Emong Bas, he is eager to test his mettle in a friendly game opposing the Talisay City mayor. This former congressman is amenable to the idea of shooting ten balls each from three areas of a basketball court namely: one from the free throw line and two from the corner wings, as he explained that he will be happy to prove to residents of Talisay City who is well enough physically to score more points. And then, Sir Eddiegul hopes to play one-on-one even for just to two minutes against Mayor JVR and see who hits higher scores.
Serendipity! I am really excited to elevate this idea to the level of a challenge. By chance, this has unexpectedly become a workable concept. No political opponents hereabouts have been heard to play their hearts out in a friendly competition. So, we should jell two of our country's favorite pastimes - basketball and politics - into a big event to entertain us during the Christmas season.
From here on, I will be extremely happy to meet Mayor de los Reyes to relay to him that Sir Eddiegul is challenging him to this sport invented by James Naismith. The game can be played right at the Tabunok gym and not later than December 2015. I will do my best to convince him that it should be fun to watch them on the hardcourt. I expect him to propose reasonable terms and conditions designed to make the shoot-out and actual play a contest of accuracy, skill and capability.
If Mayor de los Reyes defeats Sir Eddiegul in the projected basketball contest, then he shall have convinced the people of Talisay that he was never motivated by malice in derisively saying that my university president is too weak to carry himself.
On the other hand, there is likelihood that the mayor will not entertain this plan. He might reject it like a curse. Why, he can say that he does not play basketball. However he dodges the game, his words will thenceforth be marked as untrustworthy.
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