Wednesday, February 28, 2007 Sayson: Not warm on local bizman’s NBA plans By Homer Sayson Secondovertime
CHICAGO - The word aggressive cannot begin to describe Atan Guardo when it comes to promoting his business empire, the Osaka Iridology. And that explains why his famous last name has long been attached to various sports tournaments all over Cebu City.
Osaka's advertising budget would terrify an accountant, but Guardo insists it's worth every centavo." Sponsoring events and buying newspaper and TV ads costs a fortune, but it uniquely allows us to provide an avenue where athletes in various disciplines could hone their skills and compete," the former CCSC chairman explained.
To promote one of his latest products, Arthro, Guardo bought over P2 million worth of air time for ABS-CBN's Pacquiao-Morales 3 telecast last Nov. 19. But that wasn't enough. Atan wanted Arthro to be associated with the most prestigious hoops league in the world, the NBA.
So he summoned his old college buddy, yours truly. "Can you help us reach the NBA and ask the process involved in asking for a player endorsement?
How much dollars are involved in bringing some NBA stars to visit Cebu for an exhibition game?" Atan asked me three weeks ago.
I did call Atsushi Sugiyama of the NBA headquarters in New York and he referred me to Carlo Singson, a senior manager in the business division of NBA Asia.
Singson was at the 56th All-Star Game last Feb. 18 and he's still in the US for a little vacation. He appreciated Guardo's interest in trying to do business with the NBA, but unfortunately, Arthro is a pharmaceutical product and endorsing it "is something the NBA doesn't actively pursue," Singson said.
"I'll just focus on the exhibition games, maybe work with the PBA to make it happen," Atan said after hearing from Singson.
The good news, however, is that Guardo's accountant just made a huge sigh of relief. And he can now release his nervous, sweaty hands from the company checkbook.
WEDNESDAY CLUB. It's a group of "young and not so young professionals, who find time to just sit back, relax, and enjoy each other's company over cups of coffee," Fr. Jun "Batitz" Gutierrez of the Talamban Parish wrote.
The group, which was born and raised at Bo's Coffee Club, is participated in mostly by bank officers, insurance agents, car dealers and the like. They've had this midweek fling for over five years now and they all share one thing in common—They're regular Sun.Star Cebu readers, who wander in the sports pages for this column.
"We've spent nights talking about what you've written, such as your NBA Finals coverages, how you tricked us with articles about your dreams, and your sarcastic and often funny responses to your dirty critics," Fr. Jun adds.
Rino Montecillo, Lulu Lauzon, Jennie Estudillo, Maggie Cabrera, Dondon Tan, Bong Bacalla, Neil Darwin Credo, Jon Fruto Teodorico, Sheila May Deposoy and Fr Jun are the pillars of the Wednesday Club. They meet tonight, at the usual time and place. I want to make sure the agenda includes how much I appreciate their support.
WORLD-CLASS. Lawyer Frank Malilong Jr., a dear friend and Sun.Star Cebu opinion columnist, spent P18,000 for nine ringside tickets to the "Moment of Truth" boxing card last Saturday night at the Cebu City Sports Center.
It sure is a lot of money, even for a blue-chip member of the bar. But it gave Malilong 18,000 reasons to do it again. "It was beautifully done, very well-organized. The lights and sound system were terrific and the bouts went on as scheduled," he said.
Malilong's illustrious entourage included his grandson, Chico, his lovely bride, Dr. Alma Malilong, a pathologist at Cebu Doctors, and Dr. Grace Avila, who is also a famous pathologist and the daughter of undefeated Kamagayan barangay captain Jesusa Avila.
Also there with Malilong were Ewin De Guzman, Engr. Dodong Cana, Rancol Pelimer, Weng and Dave Cerojano. They had mixed reviews on the Gorres-Montiel fight, but they were unanimous in declaring the "Moment of Truth" as a remarkable success.
