NO. 11 dances in the flank.
No. 11 sends a great cross but no receiver.
No. 11 leads quick counter.
These are just some of the notes I took of a game involving Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu’s high school football team before I knew who Christian Lumapas was. In every game I cover, after taking down notes, I usually check with the fourth official to know who’s what number. But, eventually, the players figure prominently and regularly in your notes, they cease to become numbers.
So from 11, he became Lumapas in my notes, just as has his equally gifted teammate the No. 10 became Leo Maquiling instead of just a number. He was a thing of beauty in the field, one that gave defense numerous fits.
Sports and jerseys are a thing. We all know who No. 23 is. Though the answer may vary in each generation but we all know who No. 23 is.
In the past few days, I’ve seen some tribute to No. 11; opposing teams forming 11, opposing coaches honoring 11 and we all know who they mean by that. And that’s the ultimate tribute to an athlete, right? For a coach who lost many a title, not to mention strands of hair, in losing to you, to be honoring you.
Sports, especially physical ones like football, are supposed to shape you mentally and physically. To a certain degree, there’s some machismo in football but I hope this tragedy will teach some players to open up if they have problems.
For teammates and coaches to pry if they see something wrong.
Players usually celebrate by pointing to the sky when they score and I assume, the Magis Eagles forwards will be doing that a lot this season. But this time, it will take on a whole new meaning.
BATANG PINOY. Cebu Province cut its number of entry to the Batang Pinoy but at least the team, which has begun to climb in the overall standings in the past few years, is represented in the annual meet.
It’s always a given that whenever there is a change in administration, some priorities and programs are discontinued also. I just hope that in the next few months, there will be new people leading the Cebu Provincial Sports Commission (CPSC) and they will continue the province’s participation in events organized by the Philippine Sports Commission—the Batang Pinoy and the Philippine National Games.
I heard the CPSC is busy meeting for a planned Governor’s Cup for volleyball and it’s good that there’s going to be a province-wide tournament under Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia. I hope that the highly popular basketball tournament, which attracted jam-packed crowds owing to its home and away format, will be revived too.
The CPSC was also very active in Department of Education meets like the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (Cviraa) and the Palarong Pambansa, making the Cebu Province delegation the envy of some because of its support in terms of equipment, logistics and transportation.
I hope that kind of support will be seen again when the Cviraa kicks off next year. Cebu Province’s athletes got used to that kind of support and it would be unfortunate if they won’t get the same level this year.