Cosme’s wrath disrupts tourneys

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

SUPER typhoon Cosme devastated our province last May 17, wrecked our houses, buildings, electric posts, telecommunication lines, water supplies, vehicles, livestock, crops and most of all  killed 32 people in the province alone.

To me, this was the strongest and most ravaging typhoon that I ever experienced in my life, more powerful than the dreaded Dading and Yoling during the late 60’s and Gading in 1998.

Cosme’s wrath also disrupted a series of sports activities like the Tour de Tarlac bikefest originally scheduled on May 24-25 and was postponed to first week of June.

The Torres Sprint Challenge in Mapandan was supposed to be held the day Cosme came. Luckily, the event was still a success even after moving it two days after Cosme’s fury had vanished. I never doubted that Pangasinan sprint king Ericson Obosa of Manaoag would win the event organized by the town’s alderman Mamerto Eden, Jr., former Mapandan veem Dack Tamayo, SPO3  (Ret.) Jesse  Mosada and  barangay chair Adong Castro.

Cosme also derailed some inter-barangay basketball tournaments in the province. Organizers could only moan in despair after Cosme’s wind knocked off the roofs and boards of the basketball courts.

The only event that I knew that was not postponed on account of Cosme is the First Dagupan City Triathlon Championship that pushes through today. (Event chief organizer Mark Anthony Baliton confirmed to this writer that it’s ‘all systems go’ as originally planned).

Pangasinan’s best tri-athletes and competitors from neighboring provinces including Manila are expected to participate.

The June 12 Independence Day bikefest that I organized and ready to direct appears to be in jeopardy. I hope my sponsor will not change its mind.

* * * *

The newly created regional basketball league called “Liga Pilipinas” completed its roster with 14 team participants and surprisingly, there  is no Pangasinan squad this time unlike during the time of MBA (Metropolitan Basketball Association) when the Pangasinan Presidents (eventually called Pangasinan Waves) and the Hundred Islands team in the National Basketball Conference (NBC) played for the province.

I don’t know why.

Yes, we have an abundance of tall and good players in the province but I guess nobody has the guts to organize a team because no investor is willing to bankroll it after the dismal performances of the two Pangasinan teams.

Both the Presidents and the Hundred Islands squads never reached the semifinals and I guess that could be the big reason why.

The two teams are now mothballed temporarily and we don’t know when they will be revived.

“Bulok ang basketball sa Pangasinan kaya hindi tayo pumasok sa ganitong liga ngayon kasi alam na natin na hindi na naman tayo mananalo at sayang lang ang oras, pera at mapapahiya lamang tayo,” said an avid basketball aficionado who asked that his name not be printed.

He could be right.  But he could be wrong, too.

This province boasts of a lot of basketball superstars but these celebrities honed their skills in Manila, not here. We have Sta. Barbara boys Marlou Aquino and Christian Calaguio, Alaminos City-born Jun Marzan and Lordy Tugade, Pozorrubio-raised  Marc Pringis and Renren Ritualo and Urdaneta City pride Danny Ildefonso, to name a few.

There’s no stiff competition to be had here and no elite coach and trainer who can make our budding players excel. And when our players were lured with higher incentives play for schools in Manila, something that many of the schools here can’t afford to give, they can’t be faulted for grabbing the rare opportunities offered them.

Remember, if Pangasinan is the best harbor for cycling as our national cycling officials say and Cotabato province is the Madison Square Garden of boxing, Manila is still the Mecca for basketball.

No doubt about it.

(Readers may reach columnist at biking.jess@yahoo.com. For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/sports-eye/
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