The Year’s Top Stories: RP sports moments of glory, gloom

(Last of two parts)

PBL gets reprieve. Malacañang came to the rescue of the beleaguered Philippine Basketball League (PBL) whose amateur status was recommended for reversion to professional by former Games and Amusements Board (GAB) chairman Dominador Cepeda. PBL commissioner Chino Trinidad couldn’t understand why after 18 years of operation, the league was suddenly in the eye of a storm. Since the PBL draws 80 percent of its players from the school circuit, the GAB’s decision was life-threatening. Malacañang, however, said a review of the GAB’s recommendation was in order and ruled the PBL would remain amateur until a final resolution. Trinidad hopes that newly-appointed GAB commissioner Eduardo Villanueva’s enlightened leadership will eventually kill plans to turn the PBL into a pro league.

Pacquiao wins IBF title. When Malcolm Tunacao lost the World Boxing Council (WBC) flyweight title last March, the country was left without a single world champion — until last June when Manny Pacquiao, rising to the occasion, stopped Lehlo Ledwaba to capture the International Boxing Federation (IBF) superbantamweight crown in Las Vegas. There were 12 world title fights involving Filipinos in 2001 and Pacquiao was the only winner.

Jacobs named national coach. No one deserved it more than Ron Jacobs who was appointed coach of the Philippine basketball team bound for the Asian Games in Busan, South Korea, this September. Jacobs is celebrating his 20th anniversary on local soil and has lived the best years of his life here. He conducted preliminary tryouts then named 29 candidates who will be recalled for more sessions on Jan. 7. But last Dec. 23, Jacobs suffered a stroke. Doctors are confident of a full recovery with unimpaired speech and mental faculties intact even as Jacobs still remains under close observation in the hospital.

PSC under fire. Disgruntled athletes, led by former weightlifter Jaime Sebastian, refused to be silenced. They marched to Malacañang and bared their souls to President Arroyo whose husband Mike Arroyo happens to be Tuason’s first cousin. The athletes called for Tuason’s resignation, citing lapses in management.

A horse named Wind Blown — Four-year-old bay colt Wind Blown — bred by Sandy Javier and owned by Hermie Esguerra — stole the thunder from the thoroughbreds. The superhorse won the Breeders Cup, the Gran Copa de Manila, and the Presidential Gold Cup. Wind Blown is only the fourth horse even to win multiple Gold Cup titles in the race’s 29-year-history.

Japan lowers boom. It was the final straw. The Japan Boxing Commission (JBC) prohibited Filipino boxers from entering the country unless to fight for an Oriental or world title. It meant a severe loss in dollar income for Filipinos engaged in the trade. Last February, bantamweight Ricky Gayamo went to Japan with two Filipino companions to battle Norihisa Tomimoto in a 10-round bout. The two companions, trainer Henry Caputo and Francis Tapang, never returned home. It wasn’t the first time that Filipinos, accompanying fighters, abused their clearance from the JBC to overstay in Japan as illegal aliens. The ban was announced shortly after the disappearance of Gayamo’s companions. The JBC said it will lift the ban as soon as the GAB is able to enforce strict measures to curb the incidence of TNTs.

Another milestone story in 2001 was the staging of the 3rd Batang Pinoy in Bacolod with some 4,000 athletes and 2,000 coaches converging last Dec. 1-7. Somehow, the games went on despite charges of age cheating, reports of theft, substandard accommodations, and poor coordination. Manila was the overall champion. A budget of P17 million was in the books for the Bacolod meet after the 1st Batang Pinoy used up P31 million in 1999 and the second, P27 million last year.

In softball, the MayniLA Golden Girls took third place at the World Series in the 16-18 age group at Kalamazoo, Michigan, last August. Three months later, the Philippine Junior Blu Girls posted a 6-2 record, good for fifth overall, at the World Cup in Plant City, Florida.

In baseball, the Philippines qualified to compete in the 16-nation World Cup for the first time since 1938. But the Filipino batters were badly outclassed in the tournament in Taipei. Japan, bannered by nine pros, blasted over 20 runs to force an abbreviated shutout over the Filipinos who were shamed in their debut.

In bowling, fiery Liza del Rosario barged into the World Cup bowling finals in Pattaya, Thailand, last November after crushing Krisal Scott in two straight games of the best-of-3 semis. It was del Rosario’s first appearance in the World Cup. In the finals, she fell victim to Japan’s veteran Nachimi Itakura. Del Rosario, 24, shared the doubles gold with Arianne Cerdena at the SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur this year. In the men’s category, four-time World Cup champion Rafael (Paeng) Nepomuceno ended a two-year hiatus from wrist surgery to finish third at the World 10 Pin Masters tournament in London last March.

In distaff boxing, Camp Crame police officer Michelle Martinez won a gold medal in the lightwelterweight division at the first Asian Women’s Boxing Championships in Bangkok.

In basketball, San Sebastian College won the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) seniors crown, Shark Energy Drink captured the PBL Challenge Cup. Welcoat topped the PBL Chairman’s Cup, the Batangas Blades garnered the Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) title, and three teams — San Miguel Beer, Red Bull, and Sta. Lucia — took turns on top of the heap in the PBA’s three conferences.

In tennis, the Philippines vaulted back to Group 2 in the Asia Oceania Davis Cup zone after defeating Sri Lanka, Singapore, Bahrain, and Tajikistan. The Filipino team was made up of Johnny Arcilla, Adelo Abadia, Rolando Ruel, Joseph Victorino, and Joseph Lizardo. The closest the Philippines came to entering the World Group of 16 was in 1991 when Felix Barrientos and Roland So battled Sweden in a qualifying series in Manila. This February, the Filipino netters travel to Kazakstan in a bid to advance to Group 1.

In golf, former US collegiate champion Jennifer Rosales pocketed the third prize of about $50,000 at the Office Depot Open in Miami and Frankie Miñoza of Bukidnon came from behind to win at the Fujisankei Open last April. Miñoza, 42, made Asian golf history this year when he shot a blistering, record 10-under par 61 in the second round of the Singapore Masters. It was the best score ever in Asian tour annals.

In taekwondo, Roberto Cruz claimed the bronze at the 15th World Championships in Korea. He beat Romania’s Lazar, Thailand’s Panprom, Greece’s Zikos, and Canada’s Roy before losing to eventual champion Choi of Korea in the semis. Cruz, 29, had won the silver in the 54-kilogram class at the World Championships in Manila in 1995, Hong Kong in 1997, and Canada in 1999. At the SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur, Cruz won his sixth straight gold medal since 1991. No Filipino jin has ever attained as much acclaim in international competitions as Cruz.

Sports figures who passed away during the year were broadcaster Romy Kintanar, Olympian Fely Fajardo, BAP Region III director Antonio Angeles, basketball coach Valentin (Tito) Eduque, Inocencia Solis (the first Filipina to win the 100-meter run at the Asian Games in 1958), and former national cager Alfie Almario.

Through tears of joy and anguish, the saga of Philippine sports saw another historic chapter end in the year 2001.