Friends to play for Rudy

LOS ANGELES — This coming Sunday, May 8th, is Mother’s Day. But for Sweet Distrito, daughter of former PBA star Rudy Distrito now confined at the Clark County Jail and charged with murder in Las Vegas, Nevada, it will be more like an early Father’s Day.

"I’m here to help because I’ll always be his daughter. I’m here to pick him up if he ever did something bad or whatever, or if he did something wrong, I’m here to pick him up because I know he was like that to me and our family," said Distrito’s 21-year old daughter.

Rudelyn Distrito or "Sweet" is a self-confessed Daddy’s girl. She is Distrito’s eldest daughter with wife Jocelyn. The couple has two other sons, Rudy Distrito, Jr. (18) and Carlos Marion (17), and a daughter, 13-year old Rubina Jane whom the family fondly calls "Ina."

Sweet, who’s currently taking up nursing at El Camino College in Torrance, California, has recently dropped her Microbiology class to concentrate on helping Philippine basketball’s "The Destroyer." She has also postponed her application to a nursing program so that she could focus her energies on fund-raising projects for her father’s legal fees that now amount to $50,000.

The bail set for Distrito was set at $500,000. Because of the steep price of temporary freedom, the once popular PBA cager remains in jail as he awaits the first day of his jury trial set for November, 2005. Meanwhile, according to Sweet, there has been an outpouring of support for her father.

"The support is really good. I didn’t even expect that. I know that my dad was involved in a lot of games, even the locals here in Carson. Everybody was in disbelief. When everything came up, people started calling us, emailing us. Some were sending support — emails, phone calls, emotionally, financially. People would fly and talk to us," she said.

Sweet added that the most valuable advice she’s gotten so far from Distrito’s supporters is to constantly remind her father to "just reflect on what happened in his life and don’t worry about what’s next because it’s still too early to bounce back and pick up his life."

Interestingly, the very people who say that they are the ones who will be doing some "picking up." Friends and former teammates of Distrito will be getting together to do some pick up games dubbed "Rudy Distrito Invitational Cup" set for May 8th, 2005 at the Veterans Sports Complex in Carson, California.

The idea started with the visit by Bacolod Congressman Monico Puentevella last March 19th. Puentevella was in Las Vegas then for the Manny Pacquiao-Erik Morales fight and he decided to look into Distrito’s conditions in jail. Distrito is a proud son of Bacolod. The congressman was accompanied by Rene Cuizon and Roland Abilo, Distrito’s former teammates in Bacolod City, and who are now also residing in Southern California.

"I asked how he was doing and he asked me for help," said Abilo. He and Distrito have been friends since their high school days at St. Joseph’s High School in Bacolod. "I told him I didn’t have enough money, but I’ll try to come up with something," added Abilo who played for the University of Manila with Nelson Asaytono and Jegjeg Pelaez under Coaches Ato Tolentino and Boy Clariño. He now works as a truck driver in Los Angeles.

Remembering that Distrito played with a lot of other cagers during his time, Abilo started getting in touch with some who now reside in the U.S. He said the response was very positive. Some are even spending their own money to fly to California from the other states to show their support for Distrito.

"These are people from way back. Some of them I only saw pictures of when I was young. My dad still has so many supporters, friends who are interested to know and willing to help. I’m thankful for that," Sweet said.

The reunion of ex-PBA, PABL and MICAA players is scheduled to be played in four games for the whole day affair. A knockdown series, winners in the morning toss-ups will play for championship, the main feature in the afternoon games. The losers will play for third and fourth early in the afternoon.

Participating teams are:

 Manila Team –  Fred Santos, Jerome Cueto, Jun Paguinto, Boyet Francisco, Macky de Joya, Boy Platon, Noni Roblers, Boyet Baguyo, Olan Cruz, Chris Mcgary and Rhino Salazar, playing coach. 

Cebu Team – Pongkee Alolor, Don Don Ampalayo, Rey Yncierto, Bernard Fabiosa, Jun Jabar, Boy Portosa, Jeff Mccoy, John Burgos, Anthony Borja, with Dean Woo as manager and coach.

 Bacolod Team – Francis Arnaiz, Danny Basilan, Yves Dignadice, Naning Valenciano, Django Rivera, Vilmer Banares, Jun Locsin, Roland Abilo, Tapong Advincula, Mando Abalos, Nene Tad-y with Rene Cuizon as coach.

 Los Angeles Selection Team – Danny Florencio, Romy dela Rosa, Jet Dungo, Ed Cuevas, Ben Obrique, Bioll Wong, Chris Tuanio, Danny Godjit, Mike Cuyong, Herbert Cuyong, Willie de Castro, Eric Ferrer, Ruiel Papa, with Rene Canent as coach and Mario Cruz as manager.

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