January’s cycling and basketball events

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

NARITA, JAPAN—- I’m making this piece at the Tokyo International Airport during my four-hour stopover in this cool and foggy city of Narita on my way to Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas to visit my relatives (father side) and my Texas nurse twin daughters Raina and Raisa. I also look forward to a reunion with my cycling friends in Houston led by the brothers Blan and Amor Caguioa formerly from San Carlos City and Gilbert Mangahis of Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

I will also be visiting my first daughter Baby Ruth, other children and grandchildren, my amigos and town mates, cyclists Domingo Almonte, Jr. of Mangaldan and Gerald Valdez of Sual, Pangasinan in California.

I apologize for not writing my column last week. I had to complete my preparation for this long trip even as I covered two cycling events in Sual and Binmaley towns which proceeded smoothly. There was also my coverage of the much-awaited clash between the University of Luzon Golden Tigers and the Lyceum Northwestern University Dukes which unfortunately was marred by physical blows among the players. Thanks to the referees and coaches of both teams who managed to contain the brawl.

As we all known now, it was the PRISAA champions Tigers that won, 94-83. It was a disappointing debut for UCAAP titlist LNU’s new head coach Nanoy Duque. Anyway it was just an exhibition tilt and no title was up for grab but only prestige that was at stake.

After the successful special event, organizers Angel Gumarang and Renato Vidal said they are contemplating to hold an invitational tourney this month or early March. In addition to the four Dagupan City based institutions UL, LNU, PAMMA, and UPang-PHINMA, Vidal said the plan is also to invite neighboring college schools like DMMSU of Agoo, La Union, ICE of Urdaneta City, AIE College of Angeles City and perhaps University of Baguio. If this plan pushes through, this could be the biggest invitational league that will ever be held in Pangasinan. It’s a good preparation for the UCAAP and PRISAA tournaments this year.

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DALLAS/FORT WORTH, TEXAS —- After travelling 12 hours and 50 minutes from Narita, my first child Jazy called to inform me that the 2015 Binmaley Cycling Challenge (which I was supposed to direct if not for this trip) was successful. Jazy, who took over from me, said there were 47 riders and the event was done in two categories, the masterand grandmasterdivisions. But let me clarify that the event was different from the January 27 bikefest won by hometown kid Francis Arenas exclusively ran for Binmaley riders while the January 30 tiff was an open competition. As expected, the well-trained and top seeded 47 year-old Marikina City-based Romeo Camingao topped the master while Ruel Gendrano ruled the grandmaster. Jazy also reported said that Binmaley Mayor Sammy Rosario was there throughout and awarded the prizes to the winners, assisted by the town’s two dads. The 120 kilometers annual road race is another sports project of Mayor Rosario held yearly during the celebration of the town fiesta.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK:  And Jesus Christ said “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” MATTHEW 7:13-14

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