Big day in Davao

In a historic tribute, a dedicated group of sports enthusiasts led by former Regional Trial Court judge Jaime Quitain will honor the first inductees of the Davao Sports Hall of Fame at the Grand Men Seng Hotel Ballroom Serenade in Davao City tonight.

It has long been Quitain’s dream to recognize sports heroes from Davao. For months, he planned the Awards Night, creating widespread interest in the event through his popular sports column “Last Two Minutes” in the Mindanao Times. To get the ball rolling, Quitain established the Davao Sports Hall of Fame Board of Directors of which he is the founding chairman and president. Others in the Board are former Ateneo de Davao cager Atty. Neil Dalumpines as vice chairman and vice president, former University of Mindanao cager Engineer Jonathan Madrazo as auditor, Basketball Referees Commission representative Macario Cabonce as secretary, former bank manager Renato Gutierrez as treasurer and Davao Coaches Association representative Max Abrina, accountant Frank Yu, San Miguel Corp. division manager Jack Sagpang, Christopher (Bong) Go and Anthony Sasin as directors.

Quitain said the affair wouldn’t be possible without the support of the Davao City Council, Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, San Miguel Corp., Coca-Cola, Edgar Allan Neri of Powerade, Councilor Conrado Baluran, Pastor Eladio Varquez and Rael Diaz of Athletes in Action, SCOOP president Lito de los Reyes, Alberto Liscano, Marco Te, Robert Seng, Nene Brillantes, barangay captain Mario Reta, Linda Tesoro, Arnold Suela, Frank Liu, Mike Alquiza and James Infiesto.

“For almost five decades, the time has really come,” said Quitain, a Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) deputy regional director in 1989-91. “Let us acknowledge the contributions of these players in the field of basketball which will serve as inspiration to our young basketball players for these players to work hard to achieve their dreams and aspirations with the basketball greats as their role models.”

Quitain said the first batch of enshrinees will come from basketball. “This is our pilot,” he added. “In the coming years, we will expand the recognition of Davao heroes to other sports like golf, boxing and football.”

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To qualify for induction, a Hall of Famer must have played at least a year in a Davao basketball league with good moral character and integrity. The leagues include inter-barangay, inter-club, inter-commercial and inter-school. Additionally, the athlete must have represented the country in an international competition, including the Olympics, the FIBA World Championships, Asian Games and Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

Tonight’s awards will be given out in three categories. The first category is the Basketball Hall of Fame. The awardees are Loreto Carbonell, the late Davao Oriental Gov. Francisco (Rajah of Rebound) Rabat and the late Fr. Edgar Martin. Carbonell played for the country at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, the 1958 FIBA World Championships and the 1960 FIBA-Asia (then known as the Asian Basketball Confederation) Championships. Rabat saw action on the national team that took third place at the 1954 World Championships in Rio de Janeiro. Fr. Martin was the Ateneo de Davao varsity basketball coach and athletic director in 1960-67 and was former BAP secretary-general. In 1964, Fr. Martin organized an exhibition basketball game in Davao City pitting the Ateneo Blue Knights against an all-star selection made up of Caloy Loyzaga, Carbonell, Nano Tolentino, Egay Gomez and Domingo Celis, among others.

The second category is the Davao Team Pilipinas all-time basketball greats, consisting of stars who represented the country in international competitions other than the Olympics and World Championships. They are Val Rosabal, Alvin Teng, Rey Perez, Jomer Rubi, Roy Rubi, Rolando Magno, Joel Santos, Annie Mana-ay, Josephine Malinao and Gloria Tampus.

Rosabal was the UAAP rookie of the year in 1960 and MVP in 1963. An Ysmael Steel standout, he played with the Steelers in goodwill games all over the world, including Israel, Korea, Japan and Australia. Teng, who played in the PBA, suited up in the 1994 Asian Games. Perez and Jomer Rubi, both PBA veterans, are two-time SEA Games veterans. Roy Rubi, Magno and Santos were ESQ Marketing cagers who powered the Philippines to the 1985 Asian Inter-City title in Jakarta. Mana-ay, Malinao and Tampus played with the women’s national team.

The third category recognizes PBA players, past and present, with Davao roots. Confirmed to attend are veterans Teng, Perez, Jomer Rubi, Santos, Abet Gutierrez, Noli Banate, Cadel Mosqueda and Dindo Pastor. Active players unable to attend because of their PBA commitments are Pong Escobal, John Ferriols, Samigue Eman, P. J. Simon, Sunday Salvacion and R. J. Rizada.

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Quitain said other PBA veterans with Davao links are welcome to attend. He mentioned trying to contact Rafael (Cho) Sison, Cesar (Boy) Ijares, Jay Ramirez, Romy Ang, Dong Postanes, Dong Polistico, Willy Tanduyan, Donbel Belano, Dennis Carbonilla and Teroy Albarillo but couldn’t connect. He cited two deceased players Dave Supnet and Jack Tanuan.

 Guest of honor and speaker will be former Union Bank president Armand Braun who once played for the Ateneo de Davao varsity. He will be introduced by Feliciano (Nonong) Inigo. The invocation will be made by Rogelio Antalan. The presentors of the awards will be Quitain, Rep. Franklin Bautista, Regino (Boy) Cua, Atty. Manny Nitorreda and Atty. Dalumpines. Special guests include Colombian Jairo Vargas (representing the US company Robbins Sports Surfaces whose maplewood hardcourt is used in 18 NBA arenas) and Vic Eugenio of Universal Sports, the Philippine distributor of Robbins hardcourt and Gared basketball systems.

It’s essential to immortalize the feats of sports heroes as a source of inspiration and national pride. Let us relive their achievements and share in their glory as Filipinos. Let us never forget what they have done for our country. We hope Davao’s initiative blazes a trail for other regions to follow in recognizing their sports achievers.