Sunday, August 19, 2007 Pages: Antonio Lopez Aldeguer and his A-Team By John Pages Match Point
THEY call him ALA. Pronounced just like the God of our Muslim friends, he’s the Lord of Cebu Boxing. He hails from Iloilo, studied in La Salle Bacolod, built his business empire in Cebu, transformed it into a Philippine conglomerate and, when we speak of the sport named Boxing, he’s conquered Earth.
Antonio Lopez Aldeguer.
Is there a sportsman more befitting the title “Cebuano Great?” He is. Over a span of two decades or more, he has developed and housed and nurtured dozens, hundreds, thousands of athletes with red gloves on their bare knuckles.
Talk about sports tourism? He has done more for Cebu than any other. Last Sunday’s World Cup? Mexico versus Philippines? That wasn’t Mexico vs. RP. That was Mexico versus..... Cebu! For except for Diosdado Gabi, weren’t all the five ring artists sculptured here in our backyard?
Boxing is at its peak today. No less than Oscar de la Hoya is flying to Malacañang—and maybe, to Cebu—to pay homage. Thanks to one man whose passion, generosity, vision and selflessness are as rib-breaking as that left hook of Gerry Peñalosa.
ALA, as we stand and applaud, take a bow.
Last Wednesday night at 9:30, I sat inside the Cebu City Marriot Hotel ballroom. Cameras clicked. Handshakes exchanged. Newspaper reporters scribbled. Cebu TV Channel 28 videotaped.
On the presidential table sat Michael Aldeguer, Sammy Gello-ani, coaches (and brothers) Edito and Edmund Villamor, and four names you know: Z, AJ, Boom-Boom and Michael Domingo. They arrived early that morning from Los Angeles. Here are some notes I scribbled...
BOOM-BOOM. He looked fine. His face clean and free of any beating. For if there’s any positive taken from his crumbling to the floor 2.5 minutes in the first round, it’s this: No physical damage done.
At the press-con, his words: “Nasakitan ko pildi ko. Pero ang naka pildi nako world champ. Dili basta basta. Pero nalipay ko na ang akong mga kauban daug sila. Proud ko na daug ang Pilipinas,” (“I’m pained that I lost. But I lost to a world champ. Still, I’m happy my teammates won and I’m proud the Philippines was victorious.”)
EDITO VILLAMOR. When asked what advice to give Boom-Boom next time, the celebrated trainer said: “Ang problema ni Boom-Boom kay grabe siya ka isog. Pero sa boxing, importante sad na talawan ka usahay. Kay abi ni Boom-Boom isog ta dili ta matumba... tumba man diay! Sa sunod, dapat isog ta pero naa sad ug ka-hadlo,” (“Boom-Boom’s problem is that he’s too courageous. In boxing, it’s important to have fear. Boom-Boom thought that because he’s tough he won’t fall... he fell. Next time, it’s important to combine courage and fear.”)
MICHAEL ALDEGUER. Jet-lagged and sleepless from L.A. to Guam to Manila to Cebu, he never lost the passion when he addressed the crowd. Before saying his piece, Michael asked the whole ballroom crowd to accord a standing ovation to the boxers. What a fitting gesture. “We have shown that the Philippines is at par with the best in the world,” Michael then said. He spoke of Boom-Boom. Of his fighting spirit. That despite being hit, he stood up, didn’t run and faced the enemy. That, he said, showed his courage.
NOTES. The $500,000 World Cup? It’s not only expensive—it’s heavy. I held it for a few seconds as Dong Secuya snapped photos. The WC is all-gold and littered with diamonds... The Aldeguers were in full attendance: Michael’s wife Christine (who flew in with the team); Jay and his son Anton; Chris with wife Naya... Each boxer flashed the Icelink watches they received as gifts from Golden Boy. I stared closely at Michael Domingo’s watch. Prize tag? $5,000... “It’s good to be home,” Edito Villamor told me. He had been in the U.S. a full seven weeks... Mandaue Mayor Jonas Cortes, accompanied by City Administrator Briccio Boholst, gave a speech lauding Z Gorres. He spoke of “The Dream” and how we all, like Z, should dream... SAMMY GELLO-ANI uttered, in my mind, the night’s best one-liner: “In boxing, anything can happen.”
