Pages: Gift of presence better than presents

TO basketball fans: Can we declare tomorrow morning as a holiday? I can’t recall the last time was when a game was this consequential.

Who’ll win? Obviously, the odds favor Golden State. They’ve won 88 games and lost 17 this season, including the playoffs. That’s an 84 percent winning margin. If we narrow down the analysis to the games played inside Oracle Arena, their winning rate increases to 95%!

So, sure, no-brainer, right? It’s the back-to-back champs. Not so fast. The momentum is with Cleveland. And while the Warriors possess the regular season MVP, the unanimous Playoffs MVP is The Akron Hammer. And when we speak of history, no team has ever resurrected from a 1-3 deficit to win the Finals. So this will be more history-making for the Cavs.

Scoring 41 and 41, the boos and taunts from the California fans have positively challenged Mr. James. The 6-foot-8 Hulk guarding the speedy 6’3” Curry is a matchup to watch. Two MVPs. Two teams who are starting to loathe each other. As big of a GSW fan as I am, I’m cheering for LeBron.

JOY TABAL. The biggest sporting event on this planet is the Olympics. It happens only every four years and how blessed we are that there is a huge chance that Joy Tabal will fly to Brazil.

I spoke to Jonel Borromeo early this week and, while pedaling the hills of Maria Luisa together, he relayed the good news. Patafa has accepted Joy back.

Imagine the hurdles that Joy endured. She joined Boston and missed the cutoff by four minutes. She continued training in Japan until finally qualifying in Canada (2:43:30). But that wasn’t the only obstacle. The approval of the Phil. athletic body was needed.

Thanks to Jonel and the Borromeo family and one of their myriad of companies — Motor Ace Phils. — we are joyful at Joy’s possible Olympic run.

I’ve known Jonel since high school. We were the best of friends of who dated the Villegas sisters Cefelin and Lovelin. Jonel is a good person and master negotiator who’s accustomed to convincing people. His dealings with Patafa head Philip Juico have been the latest testament to that.

But, wait. Not until the IAAF and the Rio organizing committee finally says Yes can we rejoice. Sure, Joy qualified and she’s back with Patafa. But we’ve got to get their go-signal. Let’s continue praying for Joy.

FATHER’S DAY. When I was a Grade 7 student in La Salle Bacolod, we were asked to inscribe a short message in our graduation book. My motto read: “To be like my father.”

Those five words, 32 years later, still hold true today.

Above all things, our dad Bunny has shown us — my siblings Charlie, Randy, Cheryl, Michael and I — how to love unconditionally. He spends time with us. He listens. If we have projects or concerns that need assistance, he’s there.

He’s present. And isn’t this the best present fathers can give their children? To be there always?

From as far back as I can remember, my dad was always present. During basketball or tennis games; in Sunday family dinners or birthdays — all we need to do is ask and he’d come.

My dad is generous. Both outside and especially inside, he is a good man. He is always looking at the other person’s viewpoint, not being selfish. His temperament mimics Barack Obama’s compared to Donald Trump’s. He is fair, honest and is a positive force who motivates others.

He is a lover of sports. And since I’m “obligated” to tackle this subject in these back pages, my dad Bunny has taught us the importance of sports. To dribble; to swing that forehand; to exercise daily. I’ll never forget our trip to watch Serena Williams and Andre Agassi win the US Open. When Manny Pacquiao fought in Macau, we did the same. And ever the boxing fan, he flew to Las Vegas and witnessed Manny vs. Money.

“My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person,” Jim Valvano, the late basketball coach, once said. “He believed in me.”

Dad believes in us. He believes in others.

We thank Our Father above for giving us a father like dad.

(john@pages.com)

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