NCAA’s Whipping boy

Don’t look now but the College of St. Benilde Blazers are no longer the whipping boy and cellar dwellers of the NCAA. Since joining the league with a dismal record, the Blazers are now on track for a Final Four appearance this year after a racking five straight wins, the Blazers lost two in a row to Lyceum and San Beda.

The defending champion Red Lions massacred the Blazers.  The Taft-Avenue Boys however are back on track after bombing the Jose Rizal Bombers, despite playing without suspended coach T.Y. Tang and the injured Cebuano guard Frederick Pasturan.

Of course, the Blazers climb to Final Four ladder is attributed to the return from sick bay of Justin Gutang. Also giving support are Clement Letcheu, the 6’9 center from Duala, Ilonggos Edward Dixon and Yanky Haruna from IloIlo City, Carlo Michael from Bacolod City, Mark Sangco (Davao City) and Julian Nayve (Davao City), and Kendrix Belgica.  Who knows the Blazers will spring a surprise.

Elvis has left the building

A week before the “Elvisaya and Friends Salute The Grandparents” show at Robinsons Fuente, I found myself grimacing in pain. I could hardly stand up and initial impressions led to raptured appendix or hernia. A battery of test however, including a CT-SCAN on my abdomen, yield negative results. 

While lying in my bed, I wanted to call Reina Belle Taborada, events manager of Robinsons Fuente to inform her that the mini-concert is in danger of being cancelled. If it’s my appendix, then how could I gyrate my pelvis?  After two days, I thanked the Lord, I was discharged and doctors said if not for my years of pounding the streets, 36 to be exact, I’m sure to be a doubtful performer. 

But as a never-say-die person, I’m all set to Rock and Roll this Sunday. So okay folks, don’t forget to watch our show which also features Jhun Villahermosa, the Frank Sinatra of Cebu, Edison Monternel, the Tom Jones of Cebu, Aliw Awardee, Amie Filomeno and 2019 Cebu Pop Music Festival best interpreter June Villarta. Again to tickle you is standup comedian and veteran host, Sam Costanilla.  So don’t forget it’s a free show which will start at 5:00pm at the Activity Center.  Elvis is in the building!

Did you know?

ANDRE AGASSI won the tennis gold in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. It was a family tradition as his father Mike, represented his native Iran as a boxer at both the 1948 London and 1952 Helsinki Olympics.  Mike lost in the first round both times.  Agassi marries actress Brooke Shields on April19, 1997 in Monterey, California.  Shield’s father gave Agassi a medal that Brooke’s grandfather, Frank Shields, had been awarded as a member of the 1930 U.S Davis Cup team.  The couple divorced in 1999 and Agassi married Stefi Graf in 2001.

ALI VERSUS FRAZIER On June 8, 2001, Ali and Frazier met again in New York in a fight that attracted 8,000 and more than 100,000 pay-per-view buys but wait a minute, the boxers were women.  Yes folks, it was Muhammad Ali’s daughter Leila beating Jacqui Frazier Lyde, daughter of Joe Frazier, on points.

GERTUDE EDERLE Becamethe youngest world record holder in any sport at 12 years when she set a new world record for the 880 freestyle in Indianapolis on August 19, 1919.  In 1926, Ederlebecame the first woman to swim the English Channel, achieving the feat in record time (man or woman). 

This 19-year old swimmer made the swim from Cape Gris-Nez, France to Kingsdown Beach in England in 14 hours, 31 minutes (one hour faster than theprevious record) I visited Ederle’s grave in Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, New York City two years ago.  My brother Jun’s apartment is just across the cemetery where Duke Ellington and Irving Berlin (composer of White Christmas), are also buried.

BILLIE JEAN KING shocked the tennis world by revealing in May 1981 that she’s a lesbian while she was still married to Larry King. Billie Jean admitted to an affair with her long term secretary Marilyn Barnett.

GUN CONTROL March 17, 1897, in the first championship fight  recordedon film,Bob Fitzsimons knocked out Jim Corbett in the 13th round at Carson City, Nevada.  For security, Sheriff Bat Masterson, collected 400 guns from paying customers at the entrance while another famous sheriff, Wyatt Earp, stood in Corbett’s corner with his six gun as protection. During those days, “Pwede ka mopalit ug pusil sa grocery “I bet kadtong 400 guns walay lisensiya”.