Saturday, August 04, 2007 Sayson: Mayol and Gesta get a little playing time By Homer Sayson Second Overtime
CHICAGO - After five agonizing weeks of busting their tails, Rodel Mayol and Mercitoa Gesta got some much-deserved relaxation yesterday.
They still jogged, though, albeit briefly in the morning. And they ate breakfast. A lot.
Mayol feasted on sausage and fruits, while Gesta merrily dismantled an omelet.
Lunch was ignored like a plague, and since both fighters are expected to breeze through today’s official weigh-in, their handlers gave them the rest of the day off, free time which the young Mandauehanons spent leisurely.
At 2 pm, they went to the Magnificent Mile, Chicago’s world famous shopping district at North Michigan Avenue, Gesta said.
Rodel was in the market for clothes, so they visited the Gap, the Levi’s outlet, etc. Unfortunately, it was a challenge to find anything that would fit Mayol’s rather petite, light flyweight frame.
Gesta, however, found a treasure. He bought a disc (“Untold Legend: The Warrior’s Code”) for his portable play station, a $100 toy which Gesta bought while he was in Los Angeles.
Mayol decided to buy a PSP for himself, too, but the store’s stock had amazingly run dry.
With the scorching summer weather, with temperatures flirting the 100-degree plateau, Mayol and Gesta walked back to the Chicago Hilton. They were in their room by 4 pm, anxious for a little late afternoon siesta.
They were up and about two hours later, and they went down to the Pavilion for dinner at 6:30 pm. Gesta munched on a salmon salad while Rodel opted for his favorite, chicken salad. Apple juice was the beverage of choice.
The temperatures dipped significantly by nightfall. But the humidity still packed a mean, hot wallop. That, however, didn’t stop Mayol and Gesta to venture out for some more sight-seeing.
With super bantamweight Bernabe Concepcion and business manager Michael Koncz in tow, Mayol and Gesta went to Buckingham Fountain at Grant Park, which is a short walk from the Hilton.
The fighters mingled with tourists around the world, and with Concepcion’s camera, they clicked a few memorable poses for posterity.
It was 9:30 pm when Mayol and Gesta retreated to the cold comfort of their $300-a-night Chicago Hilton chamber. Gesta climbed the scales and tipped in at 133 pounds. Mayol came in at 109.
Both fighters are in shape. Their hard training has yielded favorable gains, and as Saturday night looms, they’ve put themselves in a terrific position to succeed.
ROLLY HISO TO THE RESCUE. In one of my conversations with Mayol last week, the 25-year old mentioned the desire to load up on Filipino delicacies immediately after today’s official weigh-in at 2 pm.
Saying that rice was “hard to find in Las Vegas,” Mayol longed for Filipino food such as “tinulang manok, nilagang itlog and saging.”
I called Rolly Hiso and asked if he could help. “Walang problema,” (No problem) was the swift reply.
Hiso used to be the team manager of the Philippine National Cycling Team. He has since moved to Chicago, where he has a palatial abode in rich suburban Carol Stream. Rolly and his lovely wife Florita both work for the United States Postal Service.
A passionate boxing fan, Hiso travels all over the US to watch and support Filipino fighters. He witnessed all three of the Pacquiao-Morales duels and I saw him at the BoomBoom Bautista fight in Tampa, Florida last Dec. 4. Hiso will also be at the World Cup in Sacramento.
A good friend of Quinito Henson and Eric Tam of Solar Sports, Hiso was also accredited to the 2000 NBA Finals between the Lakers and the Indiana Pacers.
POSTSCRIPT. From my ringside seat at the All-State Arena, I will do a blow-by-blow of the Gesta and Mayol fights through AM station dyAB this Sunday morning. Fix your dial at 1512, you don’t want to miss the action.
