Thursday, September 04, 2008 Pages: La Salle, Ateneo: Can Archers wound the Eagle? By John Pages Match Point
TONY Quisumbing, one of the closest friends of my father-in-law, Jack Mendez, sent me an e-mail two days ago. A tennis aficionado who whips his racket at the same club where Ray Patuasi, Dodong Gullas, Mark Yang and Gerry Sta. Ana strut, Tony Q. is helping organize “The 2nd Sonny Young Friendship Games.”
For those who swing forehands at the Cebu Country Club, Sonny Young was a jovial and gregarious pal. But shock of shocks, one afternoon a few years back while playing the sport he’s relished for decades, Sonny collapsed after sprinting to retrieve a drop shot—then died of cardiac arrest.
And so this Saturday, Sept. 6, a tournament in honor of Sonny Young will be held at the Country Club.
“Players from Casino Español, Sancase and Cebu Country Club will join.
Games start at 3 p.m., dinner will follow at 7 p.m. to include plenty of raffle prizes courtesy of Gaisano Metro,” said Tony Quisumbing. “Sylvia Young, the widow of Sonny, and daughters Marie, Cathy and Trixy will be with us again, just like they came last year.”
BLUE V. GREEN. Also this Saturday, one of the most awaited games in RP collegiate basketball will be fought: Ateneo vs. La Salle. Between the two squads, I admit being one-sided. For eight years until first year high school in Bacolod, I wore green. And so allow me to be partisan by quoting the Vice-President of our One La Salle Cebu Alumni Association (and Balamban’s top Councilor) in his text message exhortation.
Here’s Dave Karamihan: “La Salle is in a collision course with that school over the boondocks of Loyola Heights. They relish at this opportunity to pit their basketball skills and chants against us. But more often, they fall short, and retreat with head bowed down and tails between their legs to some cave only to come out in the next showdown.
“Now, they have enjoined us to be with them in another classic confrontation in a place marked in blue, at a time when their team is dominant while ours have yet to peak. Their eyes filled with contempt and mouths filled with drool like rabid dogs waiting to pounce as they can almost smell victory!
“Let’s welcome this challenge and join them in SM Trade Hall for another confrontation between the Archers and the drooling Eagles on Sept. 6 at 4 p.m. Sharpen your arrows and make ready the pots and spices as we make tinolang eagles out of our blue friends!”
Biased, I told you. But seriously, what a perfect way to watch the game. This Saturday’s 4 p.m. game will coincide with this weekend’s SM Super Sale.
Who’s invited to watch? Everyone. But one thing’s for sure after the game is done: either the Blue Eagles turn green with envy after their loss to the defending champions La Salle, or the Green Archers turn beaten and blue after Ateneo’s league-leading 13th win.
RUN! Dr. Peter Mancao, not only one of Cebu’s top cardiovascular-surgeons but also one of this city’s tops in organizing running events, has another sortie scheduled this month. Here’s what Dr. Mancao, who’ll be in the Windy City with Dr. Yong Larrazabal this Oct. 12 for the Chicago Marathon, e-mailed me:
“The Philippine Heart Association Cebu Chapter, in celebration of World Heart Day, will be holding a 5K and 10K Fun Run this Sept. 28. The assembly area will be at the Cebu Doctors’ University Gym. Technical support will be provided by the Cebu Road Runners Club; race director is Dr. Alex Junia.
“World Heart Day 2008 —‘Know Your Risk’—is a call to action to help people better understand their personal risk for cardiovascular disease, including hypertension.
“Heart health screening and other activities for the public are being planned in over 100 countries worldwide. Heart disease and stroke is the world’s largest killer, claiming 17.5 million lives each year. That’s why World Heart Day was created, to create public awareness of risk factors for heart disease and stroke and to promote preventive measures.”
