Sports Eye
Losing another friend
By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.
FORTH WORTH, TEXAS —In just five days after the demise of cycling friend Ricky Diocares, another pal of mine died last March 20 in his sleep (bangungot), another shocking news to Pangasinan sports. George Alipio, a bastion of Lyceum Northwestern University (LNU) Dukes from Labrador, will turn 23 years old of age on March 29. So young with so much more to do.
The news really shocked us basketball aficionados. He was one of the main lifters of the LNU Dukes when they bagged the silver medal in the 2013 PRISAA National Games and no one could have thought that this could happen to someone as young as 22. He was the second of five brothers (Sadam Elleonor, Billy Louie, Aljohn, Mark Alex) of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander and Violeta Alipio and with a sister, Alexandra.
Former LNU head coach and Alipio’s mentor Angel Gumarang in his long message to me via Facebook said, “It was shocking news. George Alipio’s death came like stab into our hearts and hard to believe to accept. The cager is at the peak of his playing career and very young to leave us. We’re together for four championship years, forming perhaps the best LNU Dukes team ever assembled and built a basketball dynasty at LNU. He made coaching an easy task for me. He was my extension as a maestro on court every game. He was a humble person and the gem of Dukes as a point-guard entertaining the crowd with his prolific plays despite his size and bringing honors and pride for the institution we both served with utmost passion and loyalty. LNU gained so much popularity and earned some marketing leverage with Alipio as a marquee ambassador. The LNU family will miss you George. Pangasinan collegiate basketball will always remember you among the best cager. But I will miss you the most because you made me a legendary coach. My sincere sympathies to the Alipio’s family. Rest in peace, George. We love you so much.”
Alipio was also a member of my son Jazy’s Pitaki Boyz Excellent Noodles basketball team supposed to play in the opening game of the 2015 Mangaldan Inter-Commercial Basketball Tournament last March 21. The Pitaki Boyz who dedicated their game to him and played with black wristbands, won the opening match convincingly plastering the Guilig Selection squad, 94-63. They felt Alipio watched them play and, of course, helped made it possible. His new “8” jersey that he was displayed at the Pitaki bench during the whole match to respect his memory, and to manifest how he is loved and missed.
The last time I saw Alipio was last January 17 when he played with the Pitaki Boyz against the San Fabian All-Stars headed by the town’s mayor, Constante Agbayani. The Pitakis won by just a mere point, 92-91, helped by Alipio’s unequaled fancy passes and drives. I missed his last play with the Pitaki Boyz during their ‘goodwill game’ against the Alaminos City Selection of Vice Mayor Jing Aquino which they won handily. with Alipio at the helm, as usual. Yes, he’s short (5’5”) but with a big heart and fights like David against the Goliaths inside the battle arena. I likened him to Virgilio Abarrientos of the old Crispa team of the defunct MICAA that despite his diminutive dimension, he was a giant and a master in his own right.
Goodbye my friend George. You are now in the hands of God. May you rest in peace with His blessing. And yes, for sure the groups we’ll miss you so much. Amen.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Then Pilate said to Him, “Are You not speaking to me? Do you not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?” Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.” JOHN 19: 10-11
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