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The Guinness Book of World Records officially recognized Erwin Evangelista as owner of a new mark for the longest dribbling record yesterday, six months after he accomplished the feat.

The United Kingdom-based record organizing body had to process the application for months and has made the official announcement just recently. Evangelista, a 22-year-old Libis, Quezon City native, dribbled the ball in a new record time of 45 hours and 22 minutes.

Evangelista, who practices his dribbling skills in a covered court in Libis, joined the Revicon Forte-sponsored dribbling contest that attracted hundreds of participants, seeking to erase the record previously set by African-American Joseph Odhiambo.

The old mark was 26 hours and 40 minutes, which was easily surpassed by 54 Filipinos. But it was only Evangelista who endured the grueling challenge by coming out with the longest dribbling time.

“I would have reached 48 hours if they didn’t stop me,” said Evangelista, who started dribbling Saturday afternoon and finished Monday noon in front of his family and friends.

The event, dubbed “Astig Revicon: Guinness Dribbling Challenge,” drew participants not only from Manila but also from Cebu, Dagupan in Pangasinan and Davao City.

“We’re proud of him,” said Alexander Panlilio, assistant vice-president for Unilab Consumer Health.

For his feat, Evangelista received P500,000 from Unilab, a full scholarship from AMA Computer and a one-year supply of Revicon Forte.

“That he pushed back the boundaries of what is physically possible is a triumph to be shared by the whole human race,” said Shaoi Aquino, product manager of Revicon Forte.

“Because of him, we now have a new benchmark for human endurance, it’s our credit as a nation that it is a Filipino who redefined resilience for the rest of the world,” she added.    – Joey Villar