It’s Elmer calling

For as long as I can remember, Elmer Yanga has been involved in basketball. He sat on the bench as team manager when the Concepcion family’s RFM Corp. owned a franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). There wasn’t anyone else RFM president Joey Concepcion turned to when it came to deciding on issues relating to sports, particularly basketball.

Before RFM broke into the PBA in 1990, Elmer was already immersed in hoops–as team manager of the company’s squad in the amateur commercial leagues. In fact, Concepcion himself played for RFM in the Philippine Amateur Basketball League (PABL) which later evolved into the Philippine Basketball League (PBL). Elmer was already on the bench when Concepcion and future PBA coach Yeng Guiao played together for RFM in the PABL in the early 1980s.

For 38 years, Elmer worked at RFM. He retired last year as Senior Vice President for corporate communications. But as he just couldn’t shake off the sports bug, Elmer continues to be RFM’s team manager for the Sunkist-UST squad in the PBL. Elmer said RFM is committed to support the UST team in the coming PBL Unity Cup. Whether RFM will return as a regular PBL member is still under study, he added.

Elmer, of course, will never forget RFM’s glory years in the pros. As team manager, he savored the sweet taste of victory in four championships–two under Guiao and two under Derick Pumaren–during RFM’s 12-year stay in the PBA.

Another milestone in Elmer’s basketball history was managing the national team for Selecta, an RFM brand, two years ago. He took the PBA All-Stars to a trip to Italy where the nationals played four games before they competed in the Asian Games in Busan.

On weekend mornings, it’s tough to reach Elmer because he keeps his cellphone safely tucked inside his gym bag while playing tennis–another sport he loves.

Elmer was, is and will always be well-liked in sports circles. There isn’t a bad bone in his body. He has a ready smile for everyone. He’s someone you can’t say no to because you know he’s someone who’ll never say no to you.

The other day, Elmer phoned to talk about a project that Philtown, RFM’s real estate subsidiary, is undertaking. I could sense the excitement in his voice. I figured the project had something to do with sports. I was right.

Elmer said he was asked by Concepcion to spread the word on Philtown’s latest development–a new 35-storey condominium called The Metropolitan and a companion athletic club with a wide array of sports facilities.

The project will be launched in ceremonies at 6 p.m. this Tuesday on One McKinley Place, Bonifacio Global City. Elmer has invited his sports friends to witness the official launch. Among the PBA players in the guest list are Alvin Patrimonio, Asi Taulava, Rudy Hatfield, Kenneth Duremdes, Olsen Racela, Danny Ildefonso and Vergel Meneses. Elmer has also asked members of the PBA Board, PBA commissioner Noli Eala, Jun Bernardino and PBL commissioner Chino Trinidad to grace the occasion.

The condominium will rise inside the huge compound where the 7,000 square-meter, 28-year-old Metropolitan Sports Club or Metroclub sits along Estrella Street, a stone’s throw away from the Rockwell Power Plant. The sweetener is condo residents gain access to the facilities of the sports club which is being redeveloped into a full-scale sports resort and athletic center.

The facilities of the refurbished Metro Athletic Club–its new tag–will include two covered tennis courts, four badminton courts, a covered basketball/volleyball court, an eight-lane bowling alley, lap and kiddie swimming pools, billiards, a gym and exercise and fitness rooms for pilates, yoga, spinning, kickboxing, aerobics, sports rehab and others.

"It’s a can’t-miss proposition," said Elmer. "We’re offering an affordable premium condo where buyers are entitled to membership in the Metro Athletic Club and it’s located near the Rockwell mall."

Top-notch architects Bong Recio and Meloy Casas will execute the master development plan for the project so you know it’ll be world-class. Philtown’s other projects are the One McKinley Place and Fairways Towers in the Bonifacio Global City.

The Metroclub is a conspicuous landmark in Makati. It was opened in 1976 and today, has 1,600 shareholders. The property where The Metropolitan condo will rise was sold by Metroclub to Philtown but Metroclub or the Metro Athletic Club will continue to be owned by its shareholders.

I’m sure Elmer’s friends can’t wait to be invited to play tennis at the club. Or they might just invest in The Metropolitan.

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