Sports Eye
First time
By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.
THERE’S always a first time. I can’t dispute this cliché.
And this was proven to me once again on December 20 during the 3rd Gen. Bataoil – Garcia Cup, an-all amateur event, where, I am sorry to say, for the first time in our local cycling events none of our touted Pangasinan cyclists land in the top two positions.
Two riders from our neighboring provinces — Rustom Lim of Nueva Ecija and Melvin Mendoza of Ilocos Sur — captured the limelight and humiliated our local pedal-pushers in our own turf. We were only good for third, which was won by Edmundo Nicolas from San Manuel town.
Nonetheless, our cyclists should already consider themselves lucky because the sports-minded former PNP NCRPO chief retired Gen. Leopoldo N. Bataoil, who bankrolled the bikefest, gave them another break to hone their skills and prove their worth anew.
As they’ve done in the past, the yearly road battle was supported by my friends, including Dagupan City Mayor Al Fernandez, Mayor Hermino Romero of Mangaldan. Felipe Movida, Jr., Doctors Randy Oriel and Roger Velasquez, Charles Evans, Engr. Rodolfo Dion, Blandino Caguioa, Gerald Valdez, former Congressman Benjie Lim and Ashok Vasandani.
It was in 2004 during our town fiesta race called “Werweran ed Mangaldan” when two non-Pangasinense professional riders, both from Guimba, Nueva Ecija, Albert Primero and Joel Calderon, bagged the top two slots, respectively. That was also the first time in the town’s annual event that non-locals went home as champions.
Well, I must say we were embarrassed because cycling is one of the favorite sports of Pangasinenses and we were conquered in our own backyard. But the reality is we can’t win them all.
It happens in any sport.
* * * * * *
After the PRISAA cagefest this year, another basketball tourney similar to the PRISAA format is now being conducted at the DWAD gymnasium. Dubbed as the “First Dagupan City-Pangasinan Collegiate Invitational Basketball Championships,” the event is participated in by six teams, namely: the University of Luzon, PAMMA, PIMSAT, AIE-C, PhilCST and Colegio de Dagupan.
I was there during the opening ceremony on December 17 (a day before my birthday) with Mayor Al and Veem Belen Fernandez gracing the occasion. The hoopfest was in honor of VM Belen’s father, the late Jimmy Fernandez, himself a basketball fanatic, according to UL coach and organizer Renato “Jack” Vidal.
Joining Vidal in organizing the event were well-known basketball figures Seato Gonimil and Angel Gumarang.
“We organized this event because one tourney every year is not enough to hone the skills of our young ones,” said Vidal.
He said that they are contemplating to hold another one but with a very different format since commercial teams will be made to participate,” Vidal added.
Carry on the good work guys. I doff my hat to you.
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