Sports Eye

By December 12, 2016Opinion, Sports Eye

Reminiscing my first triumph and No. 71

Jess Garcia

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

 

NUMBER 71 is so significant and memorable to me because it was my jersey number when I won my first of three triumphs against all odds in the 1973 Tour of Luzon. I won it by just a mere 54 seconds over my teammate, townmate and my protégé, Cesar Catambay of Barangay Malabago. That victory became a record in any national multi-stage racing, unsurpassed to this day.  After winning the 154-kilometer first stage -from Quezon City to Lucena City – and placing second in the 178-kilometer run- Lucena to Marikina – the following day, I never relinquished the ‘yellow jersey’ (overall leadership) up to the tenth and final day. Winning three more laps and finishing consistently with the lead pack in the six other legs helped keep our Pangasinan squad on top of the leaderboard from day one up to the tenth and ultimate day. Our outstanding teamwork, cohesiveness and line of attacks throughout the ten-day race under my direction as the team skipper.

Recall that our national roads were not yet well-paved during that time. The 1973 Tour was conducted in various road conditions, i.e., rough roads, flat, mountainous, short and long treks. And believe it or not, I was the only veteran in our eight-man Pangasinan squad. All my teammates were greenhorn. Aside from Catambay, the other neophytes were Eduardo Parino of Mangaldan, Tranquilino de Vera of Tayug, Wenselmo Baguio of Urdaneta, Teofilo Aquino of Binmaley, Franklin Navarro of San Carlos and Manuel Pucan of Alcala. Yet, they all contributed greatly to beat all teams and win the team tiara beating convincingly the other eight teams which were all composed of veteran riders in multi-stage racings.

Three days after the awarding ceremony for all the 1973 Tour winners and participants held at Maharlika hall in Malacanang with then the former first lady Imelda Marcos as the host, my town’s former chief executive the sports-minded Atty. Macario Ydia, elated by our performance, honored us (Catambay, Parino and I being Mangaldanons) with a motorcade-parade from the Dagupan- Mangaldan boundary to the town plaza capped by a victory program. The former governor, the late Aguedo Agbayani, who met us in the Bayambang lap terminal during the ninth and penultimate day also gave us (Pangasinan Team) a victory party a week after the Tour, at the Urduja House with then Dean Roman Tuazon playing with the band. The two occasions were so unforgettable to me.

I’ll be turning 71 on December 18. Unlike other aging people who hide the fact and too shy to tell their real age when asked, I quickly give my age unabashedly, admit that I belong (now) to the septuagenarian stage. Yes, I’m so thankful to the Lord God for the many blessings he gave me, particularly, having lived this long, a privilege that many of my sports contemporaries, especially my co-cyclists did not have. To God Be The Glory.

My first triumph and the number 71 which became also a by-word among the ball-shakers of bingo games during that time.

Number 71 will forever be etched my mind until the last breath of my life.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “He who kills a bull is as if he slays a man; he who sacrifices a lamb, as if he breaks a dog’s neck; he who offers a grain offering, as if he offers a swine blood; he who burns incense; as if he blesses an idol. Just as they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations.” ISAIAH 66: 3

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