A vote for UP

There’s been a lot of good things said about the showing of University of Santo Tomas, Ateneo, University of the East and Adamson in the recent UAAP senior men’s basketball championships.

Not to be outdone, reader Chito Hernandez, whose late father Professor Cristy was revered as the University of the Philippines sports guru, wrote in the other day to put in a good word for the Fighting Maroons.

"If this were boxing, UP would be the people’s champion because they’re the only team with a 2-0 record against UST this year," said Hernandez. "Watch out for the Maroons next year and in 2008, the university’s centenary. Just as Joe Lipa was supported by the Sigma Rho law fraternity brothers in 1986, he is now being supported by his Tau Alpha engineering fraternity allies."

Hernandez said he was encouraged to write in after reading last Wednesday’s column "With God on our side."

Here are excerpts from Hernandez’ letter:

"The providential joke I shared with my Marian friends (UST alumni parents who have kids at Ateneo) is that since both Atenistas and Thomasians are Marian devotees, our Blessed Mother would be impartial. However, the ace up UST’s sleeve was seeking the intercession of Pope John Paul II, who visited the UST campus during the World Youth Day in 1995. As Catholics know, candidates for beatification and sainthood require documented miracles — one can surmise JP II was perhaps guiding some of the free throws of his namesake surnamed Cuan.

"In the NCAA finals, PCU had a huge banner which read — ’God shut the mouth of the lions’ (a scriptural message from Daniel). I guess it’s rosaries for Catholics and scriptural passages for Christians of other denominations?

"On hindsight, Ateneo may have lost the championship in their second round game against UST, the game when they were up by three, less than 10 seconds to play, which UST still managed to tie and to win in OT with a depleted lineup. Had Ateneo won, it is likely FEU would have made it to the Final 4 and not UST.

"People seem to overlook that Ateneo was also a team in transition this year, having lost L. A. Tenorio and Japeth Aguilar, whom made the Western Kentucky varsity team. It wasn’t really the Blue Eagles who were preseason favorites but the UE Warriors. If you compare the Ateneo and UST lineups, you might even make a case that man for man, UST has the more talented lineup.

"Perhaps, to add to the excitement of future games, college ball should allow any player to call timeout even when play is live, like in the PBA. If this were in place, Ateneo could have set up another play off a timeout for a more dramatic finish.

"I had the privilege to be invited to watch a Sweet 16/Elite 8 weekend of the US NCAA live last March, the bracket where Cinderella team George Mason made it to the Final 4 with a major upset over powerhouse U Conn. Despite all the fanfare of March Madness, I am proud to opine that our UAAP and NCAA finals are much more exciting. It’s no wonder that her excellency, US Ambassador Kristie Kenney, whom the UAAP organizers invited for the awarding ceremonies in Game 2, went back on her own volition for Game 3."

* * *

Allow me to share this letter from UE executive vice president, chief administrative officer and Red Warriors team manager Carmelita Mateo:

"On behalf of coach Dindo Pumaren, the members of the coaching staff and the UE Red Warriors and the entire UE community, I wish to thank you for the words of commendation for coach Dindo and UE in your column ‘Hats off to Dindo.’

"Your view, as incisively expressed in the said column, was clear proof that we made the right decision. As you had succinctly put it, ‘sportsmanship is a value that has a more significant meaning in building character among the youth than playing to win at all costs.’

"Again, we in UE sincerely thank you for sharing your view with us and the rest of your column’s readers. More power to the Philippine Star."

* * *

Finally, reader Juan de la Cruz ([email protected]) sent in an e-mail about Ambassador Carlos J. Valdes, subject of a recent two-part series in this column.

Here are portions of the e-mail:

"It was very nice of you to write a tribute to Ambassador CJV. I met him when we invited him to be the graduation speaker of our class. It took our dean half an hour just to read his curriculum vitae and another half an hour to introduce him. Everybody was shocked to have a speaker of that caliber speaking to a very small class from a tiny school.

"I was so impressed with CJV that I decided to apply to work in his company. I was called in for an interview with the man and was shocked when he told me I could start the next Monday. His first advice to me was watch your back. He was the best teacher and boss any employee could have. He was straight and passionate. His vision was universal. He was very demanding because he wanted you to give him results, not problems. Working for him was a thrilling journey. You learned new things every moment with him.

"He earned everything he has. He worked very hard for that. A lot of people tried to hurt him but he was cool and calm during times of tribulation because he is a man of faith. Well done and mission accomplished, Mr. Ambassador."