By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.   WE have witnessed how the world’s economy was derailed by the COVID-19 for three years (2019-2021) and reportedly killed millions of people worldwide.  As true believer of  our Holy Bible, I expected this to happen given what was written in the Good Book in…

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.   VIVA is a Spanish word that literally means ‘long live’ in English. Some Latino countries say “Viva” to congratulate somebody for an achievement, some as a birthday greeting. I learned this when I was a fourth-year high school student at Jackson High School (now…

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.   BELOW is the synopsis of the first five games of this year’s PBA Philippine Cup best-of-seven championship series between defending champion TNT Tropang Giga and number one challenger San Miguel Beer (SMB) that saw TNT taking the edge, 3-2, and was one shy away…

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.   GONE were the days when our Philippine national basketball team was the dominant and powerhouse in Asia’s caging. Those were the heydays of Robert Jaworski, Alberto Reynoso, William Adornado, Jimmy Mariano, Philip Cezar, Danny Florencio, Rosaleo Martirez, Rogelio Melencio, Freddie Webb, Rudy Distrito, Fortunato…

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.   WE, ardent buffs of basketball tournaments, watched on TV last August 17 how the multi-titled and endeared San Miguel Beer (SMB) squad escaped a precarious semifinal match and eventually won the seventh and final game of their semis series with a convincing 100-89 score…

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.   WE, in sports desks were saddened by the demise of former Asia’s queen of sprint Lydia de Vega, fondly called “Diay” among her relatives, friends and athletic mates.  After the glamorous athletic lass from Meycauayan, Bulacan gave great accolades to our nation, her losing…

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.   FOR a long while, I was nationally known for being a professional cyclist by winning three national multi-stage cycling races and also finishing four times as a first runner-up. Aside from that, our Pangasinan squad which I skippered four times won the national team…

By Jesus A Garcia Jr.   I WAS not surprised but deeply saddened over the sudden passing of our beloved former president Fidel Valdez Ramos, better known as FVR. Not surprised because at 94 years old it was but expected that his health was already at a frail stage. But…

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr. OUR national basketball squad called “Gilas” did not pass the FIBA Asia Cup qualifying round held weeks ago. Although we won twice against India, we suffered a humiliating defeat twice, first frqwom New Zealand, 106-60 and 92-75, in the first and second windows. Then we…

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr. UNDOUBTEDLY, our country’s number one favorite sport then and now is basketball. But sad to say that two of our latest and prestigious international stints by our Philippines national basketball team called “Gilas Pilipinas” unexpectedly suffered humiliating defeats. The first was in the latest biennial…