Dalupan honored on 80th birthday

Virgilio "Baby" Dalupan, one of the best bench tacticians the country has ever produced, will be honored in "A Tribute to the Maestro" Oct. 15 at the Francisco Dalupan Sr. Building of the University of the East in Manila.

The affair, which will start at 4 p.m., will be highlighted with a three-day exhibit of photos, clippings and other memorabilia of the man beginning Oct. 16. It will be opened to the public.

Dalupan’s family is spearheading the tribute to be held in celebration of his 80th birthday on Oct. 19.

A four-time national team coach, Dalupan won a total of 49 championships from the collegiate to commercial amateur leagues and the professional PBA loop, including the legendary Crispa Redmanizers where he produced top-notch players like Atoy Co and Philip Cezar.

Cezar and four other ex-pros paid tribute to Dalupan in yesterday’s SCOOP sa Kamayan where they described the multi-titled mentor as feisty and disciplinarian on the playing court but soft-hearted off it.

"Maswerte lang ako as coach dahil lahat ng team na nahawakan ko ay magagaling ang mga players," said Dalupan.