Sports Eye
PBA, Gov. Pogi’s league winding down
By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.
WE watched last Wednesday
night how the multi-titled San Miguel five survived a come from behind victory
over TNT, 99-94, and seized the 2019 Commissioner’s Cup best-of-three
championship series, 3-2, one win away for the throne. It was impressive how
the boys of head coach Leo Austria after trailing the first three quarters,
28-22, 49-44 and 80-69, successfully applied a superb caustic defense in the
dying seconds of the match against TNT’s playmaker and the league’s Best Import
Conference Terrence Jones to the delight of the SMB’s raucous fans not only
inside the arena but everywhere especially those who placed their bets on SMB. Clearly,
it was the SMB wily guard Chris Ross who
sealed the win because of his successful charity shots 4.1 seconds left, but it was SMB’s import Chris McCollough’s who
made the big difference by draining in four free throws after a 94-95
disadvantage to grab the front by three marks, 97-94, 33 seconds remaining.
The Beermen might finish the series
tomorrow, August 16 (I’m writing this piece August 15). If the series reaches seven with TNT winning
the sixth, for sure it will be a slam-bang match on Sunday with TNT having the
momentum. Because basketball is the
number one sport of the Filipinos, I expect a million bettors in the entire the
archipelago making their own terms and hedges. Some will do it just for fun but
gamblers will take it seriously. Let’s wait and see.
In the local scene, the best-of-three finals of the 3rd Pangasinan
Inter-LGU Unity Games 2019 is also winding up. In Group A, defending champion
San Carlos City subdued Bayambang, 87-80, in their first game and Group B
finalist and last year first-runner-up Bugallon thwarted defending titleholder
Urbiztondo, 81-67, both held last August 9 at Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic
Center (NRSCC) gym in Lingayen. If lucky, both San Carlos City and Bugallon
will put an early end to the finals tomorrow at the same venue. If not, the
third and final encounter will be probably held on August 23 and most likely to
be staged again at NRSCC. I will be there.
The annual tourney is one of the successful sports pet projects of Gov. Amado
“Pogi” I. Espino, lll. More tourneys to come after this.
* * * *
Ronda Pilipinas chief organizer Mo Chulani was in my
town Mangaldan last August 14 and asked me and my son Jazy to arrange a meeting
with the sports-minded Gov. Amado “Pogi” Espino, III, Pangasinan Sports
Development and Management Council (PSDMC) executive officer Modesto Operania
and its deputy executive officer Marlon Domalanta about the staging of the 2020
Ronda Pilipinas sixth lap that will start and finish in the capital town of
Lingayen on February 29, 2020. We did
and without any hesitation, after meticulously and carefully studying the
details of the sixth stage, the youthful and sports-minded province chief
executive Espino gave his nod to the proposal. This naturally elated the
visiting Ronda six officials. After our dialogue with the governor, we also made
a courtesy call on Lingayen’s hizzoner, Leopoldo N. Bataoil, also a well-known
sports buff particularly in the field of volleyball, cycling and basketball. And
like Gov. Pogi, the good father of the town, Bataoil, did not have to think
twice to support the proposed project. The planned route is to traverse the
western towns with an approximate distance of 135 kilometers.
See you there, sports fans.
* * * *
QUOTE OF THE WEEK:Therefore, do not let your good be spoken of as evil; For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.ROMAS 14: 16-17
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