Tuesday, August 10, 2004 Oyson: How not to enjoy a game: Part II By Manuel N. Oyson Jr. Counter punch
OOPS, I spoke too soon. The electronic scoreboard of the Cebu Coliseum is still a remnant of antiquity. I stand corrected in my column three days ago that there is no more problem with it. I quoted the statement of Cebu Coliseum manager Benjamin Tulda Sr. that it has been solved. Asa ka, solved?
His clarification was published in Sun.Star SuperBalita, a sister publication. He was quoted as saying that there would be no more problems with the scoreboard during the PBA All-Star Classic on Aug. 15, as it has already been replaced. I went there last Sunday for the start of the 5th Cesafi basketball tournament to see personally the scoreboard working. I was dismayed.
UTILITY TIMER. They had to use the white slate board to write the running scores. The minute-by-minute announcement of the timer as to the progress of the time could not be heard above the noise and din of the spectators. I told Cesafi commissioner Felix Tiukinhoy Jr. that I did not enjoy it. I left before the start of the UV-UC main game.
I did not finish the game between Tribu Sugbu and Ozamiz Cotta NBC encounter last July 29 because I did not know what was going on, who was leading who at any one time. On my way out last Sunday, I met Tulda. His excuse is that the technician working on the electronic glitch did not know how to operate the same. He hinted that if the clock still could not be used on Aug 15, the PBA people may bring in their own utility electronic timer. This was the assurance he received from a PBA insider.
TRICKLE DOWN: From Patrick Gregorio, president of Waterfront Hotels Philippines and chairman of the Cebu Visitors Convention Bureau, comes this much earlier e-mail. He had earlier expressed his concern for the busted electronic scoreboard of the Cebu Coliseum. “I would like to point out that any sports tourism event that is organized in Cebu is good for our economy, even to the lowly vendors and taxi drivers, hotels and retai lsshops.”
“This is what we call the ‘trickle down’ effect of tourism. The Philippine Basketball Association plans to bring more games to Cebu. Nine to 20 games are scheduled in the provinces, he disclosed. Incidentally, if there is an improvement I saw on the Cebu Coliseum, it is the new coat of paint of the playing arena. It is also gleaming and glossy. The warp and sag of the flooring in some sections have been cured.
NINDOT (NICE). This should warm the heart of another e-mailer, Claire Guinto, also known as my high school classmate Ely Araneta, now US-based. He and businessman Eddie Misa labored to transform the Cebu Coliseum from a mere boxing arena to a presentable and enjoyable playing arena for proposed PBA games in the late 1970s. The dressing rooms are now air-conditioned. “Basta nindot na gyud tanan,” Tulda grinned from ear to ear. Asa ka, nindot?
William B. Wallace (IRS@moscom.com) of Rosiclare, Illinois, comments on our earlier column on the “Holiday on Ice” show many years back that led to the deterioration of the Cebu Coliseum. He said that his is the first ice rink company to open in the Philippines. He promised to provide the same fine services and products, including the world-traveling “Disney on Ice” shows.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I hope this message will find space in the hearts of the Cebu Coliseum owners.” – Waterfront Hotel Philippines president Patrick Gregorio.
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