2014 – Page 10 – Cebu Sports Blog by John Pages

‘If you believe, you can do it’

One of the most powerful words in the universe — words that you and I and anybody else wants to succeed in anything, sports or otherwise, ought to memorize — were said by a wise man: “I say if you believe, you can do it. You play happy, you can do it. You believe to win, you can win. I talk to players everyday to believe they can win.”

Those words came from the Ateneo volleyball coach Anusorn Bundit. He’s from Thailand. But he’s now here in Manila and has turned the Ateneo Lady Eagles into the toast of Philippine sports.

We were at the SM Mall of Asia last Saturday night. Just hours after Ateneo defeated La Salle in the UAAP Women’s Volleyball championships, the blue eagles soared while the green archers missed the target. You could see it from the faces of the hundreds that swarmed MOA: those wearing blue sported smiles from ear to ear; those in green endured frowns of shock.

The La Salle girls carried a 30-game winning streak when they met Ateneo in the finals.

They lost the first game. Shocker! In Game 2, they recovered to force the duel. Sadly, La Salle lost the last two games, including the winner-take-all last Saturday. After 30 games of being undefeated, they lost three of the last four.

Alyssa Valdez of Ateneo stood not only as the MVP of the season and the finals but also as hero. We spotted a few in SM MOA who wore, like we would NBA stars like LeBron, jerseys with ‘VALDEZ’ printed at the back. In the front pages of the newspapers here in Manila, her charismatic smile adorned the newstands.

‘Heart Strong’ and ‘Play Happy’ were the by-words that carried this Ateneo to clinch their first-ever volleyball women’s title. These are words we should forever remember: Be strong. Believe. Be happy. Smile.

I watched the previous games of these two squads on Balls HD channel and the nice thing is, the girls are always smiling. After a spike and a point, they group together, slap high-fives, commend each other. They’re a team of closely-knit players whose mantra says… we’re-in-this-together.

The major reason for Ateneo’s win: their mentor. “Coach Tai’s arrival was a big factor for us,” Valdez was quoted as saying. “If we’re gonna rate it with 100 percent as the highest, I’d say he’s at 110 percent.”

The funny thing is, if you watched the TV games, Coach Tai was difficult to comprehend while he huddled his players. His English is not as good as ours, and so you’d think, “How can they understand their coach?”

They did. And more than that, the coach’s belief rubbed off on the girls. “He never stops pushing us, giving us confidence. So on our part, with coach’s vote of confidence, there’s no reason for us to doubt ourselves,” said Valdez in the Phil. Star article, “To Lady Eagles, heart-strong means ‘if you believe, you win’.”

Someone once said: “It’s the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen.”

Who said that quote that fits the Ateneo story? Muhammad Ali.

Day one of Formula One

Gentlemen, start your engines! It’s Melbourne, Australia for the first of 19 Grand Prix races this 2014. F1 racing isn’t young. It’s 64 years old. But, beginning today, the organizers will enforce new rules that are some of the most revolutionary in decades.

Among the changes, they’ll a) reduce the noise, b) transform the engine into a smaller 6-cylinder version (for the first time in a quarter century, turbocharged 1.6-liter V6 engines will replace the V8s and V10s.), and c) lessen the fuel storage to 100 kilograms. All these start today for the 22 cars that will rev their engines on the 5.3-km. Albert Park street circuit.

I’m no technical car expert. But, from my readings on the rules modifications, they’re massive. It includes giving the last race of the 2014 season, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in November, double the points. While a race win is worth 25 points, it will be 50 in Abu Dhabi. The reason: to transform that final race into a nail-biting finale.

The past four years, two names — Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull — have dominated F1 racing, winning from 2010 to 2013. This year is uncertain. And this appears to be the most exciting question: Can Vettel do it again? He’s often relied on his Renault-powered car and his team, led by Christian Horner. Not now.

Why all these substantial changes? Jean Todt, the president of the International Automobile Federation, the sport’s governing body, said, “We have to consider the environment, even if it’s clear that these 22 Formula One cars alone are not going to increase the pollution in the world or in a city on a circuit. But auto racing is a show window of technology, economics and industry.”

What he means is this: F1 is hugely popular, it attracts a TV audience of over half a billion people annually worldwide. And if F1 does good — by tweaking the engines to emit less noise and pollution — then the audience, too, will take notice and do the same with their own cars. People will care more for the environment.

Consider their “Formula E” concept which begins this September. Only electric racing cars (all looking like F1 supercars) are allowed to compete in 10 cities including London, L.A., Beijing and Putrajaya in Malaysia. They might as well call that… E1!

I got hold of a copy of the Intl. New York Times “Formula One Preview” Special Report — all of four full pages — and the new rules are plenty. “The new engines are smaller, less powerful, less noisy and more environmentally friendly than any the series has ever produced,” wrote Brad Spurgeon for the Intl. New York Times. “It is with these innovations that Formula One is hoping to maintain its cachet as the producer of the world’s most advanced racing car.”

I recall my brother Charlie, who’s been to the Singapore Grand Prix, explaining to me the deafening roar of these engines. Sure, they’ll still make noise — but no longer screaming loud.

The other changes are immense. They include a “Pole Position trophy” at year’s-end for the driver with, obviously, the most pole positions. Another rule: if a driver goes outside the track limits and overtakes another driver (previously, a five-second penalty was meted) they’ll ask the driver to slow down and let the overtaken driver zoom ahead.

The biggest worry of the racing world? The uncertainty. Many have predicted that worst-case scenarios of slow cars (maybe 10 seconds slower?) or races where over half of the cars breakdown and don’t make it to the finish because of technical trouble.

I’m sure Jenson Button, whom we met here in Cebu two years ago, is one who’s concerned. But this is good. It’s good for Mother Earth. It’s good for the eardrums of the spectators.

“They (new engines) will achieve fuel consumption and performance levels that are much, much better than anything that exists anywhere in the motor sport and probably better than anything that exists on the road,” said Rob White of Renault.

I agree. And I can’t wait for the engines to roar… Today at 2 p.m.

For MVP, can Durant dethrone King James?

(Getty Images)

Basketball is not boxing. It’s not one-on-one. It’s five on five. But, for the race for the Most Valuable Player honors in the NBA, there’s a slugfest, mano-a-mano style, going on this 2014. It features two Nike endorsers. One stands 6-foot-9. The other is an inch shorter. One is lean, long-legged and loves shooting three-pointers; the other is Superman-like muscular, solid as a Veco post, and loves dunks that rock Miami.

It’s Kevin Durant vs. LeBron James. Who’ll win the MVP plum? A total of 121 votes will determine the MVP winner. This is decided by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters who will cast votes when the NBA Regular Season ends mid-April. So there’s still one month to go… But there’s no doubt that the pick will carry either of two initials: KD or LBJ.

“I think Durant will be MVP this year,” said Greg Slaughter, in our exchange of text messages yesterday. “He has been playing better than he ever has in his career and had time to shine when Westbrook was out. Also, LeBron’s in the same situation when Steve Nash won MVPs and I think they want a new one.” Good points from the PBA’s No.1 vote getter. Added Greg on Cebu… “Can’t wait to go back!”

I also asked Harry Radaza, the basketball-playing councilor of Lapu-Lapu City, and he, too, picks the Oklahoma City forward, saying, “Tough choice. I would go for KD. More consistent and efficient.”

My pick? KD. Nobody this season has played better. Durant scored 42 points yesterday in OKC’s 106-98 victory over the hot Houston Rockets. If my computations are correct, he’s averaging a whopping 31.9 points per game. Add to that 7.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists per outing. His field goal percentage is 50.9 percent and he makes 86.9 percent of his free throws. Those are astronomical, MVP-like numbers. Plus, his Oklahoma squad is the No. 2 ranked team in the league today, sporting a 47-17 win-loss record (compared to 44-17 for Miami).

It’s a done deal, right? We might as well award the Maurice Podoloff Trophy, named after the NBA’s first commissioner/president, to Durant The MVP, right? Almost. He’s close. But, like I said, there’s still one month to go before voting and there happens to be a 250-lb. giant, a four-time MVP recipient, who won’t back down and easily hand over the title like an easy assist. LeBron is LeBron is I-Won’t-Give-Up.

Last week, in leading Miami over Charlotte, LeBron scored a personal best 61 points behind these outlandish numbers: he made his first eight 3-point attempts; he scored 25 points in the third quarter; he shot 22-of-33 from the field. This fight isn’t over yet.

Sports Illustrated’s Rob Mahoney said it perfectly: “Every passing week seems to bring new heat to the MVP race, which is shaping up to be a too-close-to-call verdict between LeBron James and Kevin Durant. The two are spiraling around and toward one another in a riveting display of one-upmanship, with a great performance from one motivating the other to similar heights.

“As a result, the balance of the award seems to shift on a weekly basis. If that waffling persists, James and Durant could be closing in on one of the tightest MVP races in recent memory, if not in NBA history.”

For now, though, the stats favor Durant. His 31.9 PPG average compared to James’ 27.0 is a huge gap – that’s almost five points more per game. And – and this is important – the public often wants to celebrate a new face. If KD wins, it will be his first taste of basketball’s highest accolade.

If, however, for some miraculous March and April, the Miami Heat No. 6 pulls off the award, it will be his 5th MVP, with only three others who’ve done the same or better: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (the leader with six MVPs) and Bill Russell and Michael Jordan, with five apiece. (Interestingly, Kobe Bryant only has one MVP.)

Goodbye, marathon man

I feel sad. One of my closest friends has passed away. Our ages are so far apart. He’s nearly twice my age. But, whenever we speak and exchange stories, he treats me both as a friend and like a son.

Raul Cepeda left us last Saturday. It was a shock. Two weeks ago, I spoke to him on the phone and we agreed on a date. We often meet for dinner or over coffee.

“Raul,” I excitedly said when he answered. “Are you free for lunch? Let’s meet with Jesse Taborada.”

He wanted to. But couldn’t. “My back is aching now,” he replied. “Why don’t I call you next week when I’m okay and let’s meet?”

That “next week” was last week when, last Wednesday, I got a shocking text message from Raul’s son Sandy that his dad suffered a stroke that was caused by bleeding in his cerebellum. At 1 a.m., he had to be rushed to the Community Hospital where, upon arrival, he was in a coma and survived on life support.

Raul wasn’t young. He was 81. But, by heart and by the strength of his heart, by his running and the strength of his running legs, he was young.

At the 2011 Cebu Marathon, he didn’t join the 5K or 21K. That’s for the young ones! He joined the farthest distance, completing the 42K – at the “once young” age of 78 – with a speedy time of 5 hours and 30 minutes.

He did it again. The following year, with a slim frame of 132 lbs. and a white crop of hair that shone bright while he jogged before dawn, he ran. He completed back-to-back marathons at the age of 78 and 79. Just as amazing, Raul took up running at the age of 74!

Yes. While most men that age graduate from running to walking or to the cane or wheel chair, that’s the age when his craze for long-distance runs started.

Raul was always an athlete. His family, too, with his father a national champion in boxing, baseball and track and field. His brother, Dominador, helped found the Philippine Sports Commission. Sport swam in his veins – and he did run at an earlier age but he stopped for 15 years before resuming at that ripe age of 74.

I’ll never forget one dinner date that we had. It was a week after the 2011 Cebu Marathon and we ate at Mooon Café I.T. Park. Overlooking the start/finish line where Raul just triumphed a few days earlier, we drank beer and ate steak to celebrate. It was a double celebration because, the day before, it was his 78th birthday.

Then, as always, Raul was groovy. Wearing his trademark jeans and shiny buckle, he’d tuck-in to reveal his super-slim fit. Over a black shirt, he wore a maong jacket with the label “4 corners.” I think it had a Harley-Davidson seal. Once, many years back, he told me, he rode a big bike and toured by two wheels the four corners of the United States. I bet only a handful of Filipinos – if any – have ever done that.

Same with marathon-running. On the road, we see a handful of senior citizens running for hours – but how many were Raul’s age?

He was special. Passionate. Talkative. Most of all, he was an inspiration. At last year’s Cebu Marathon, we asked him to face a crowd of a few hundred runners to motivate the audience. He did. Anyone who says that they’re too busy or too old or too tired to engage in exercise and sports, after meeting and knowing Raul’s story, will have a different outlook.

“Some call me ‘lolo,’” he once told me, laughing. “But I don’t want to be called ‘lolo,’” he said. Instead, he wanted to be remembered as someone who inspired others.

He wanted people on the road to see this old man running and to say… “If he can do it, why can’t I?” Those were his exact words. He wanted the multitude of us to look at him and be amazed; he wanted to serve as inspiration.

He was. To me. To Leia, Sandy and the rest of his children. To our Cebu Executive Running Club members. To hundreds of others who knew him.

Last Thursday, I said goodbye to Raul at the hospital. His eyes were shut. His body, a runner’s body that was lean, had slimmed even thinner. His heart, though, pumped strong. Like it always did when he ran. We will miss you, my friend.

We, men, salute these women

(Photo by Allan Defensor/Sun.Star Cebu)

“Once made equal to man, woman becomes superior.” Socrates, the Greek philosopher, said those words. True? Ha-ha. We, men, lest we be smothered with a gunfire of words, will say… yes, nalang.

Who’s superior? This is a debate that’s not worth discussing. For as someone once said, “Women get the last word in every argument. Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.”

Tinuod, no? Here’s another truth: This month is Women’s Month. Yesterday – and it’s held every March 8 – was International Women’s Day. It’s that moment when we celebrate the importance of our mom, our wife, our sisters, our daughters, our female colleagues in the office, our Sisters (nuns), our aunties – every single lady whom we greet and meet each day.

In the realm of sports, there’s no better way to commemorate March 8 than by holding a marathon. And to show the boys that the girls can run farther, a unique event was organized in Cebu…

AWUM. It stands for the All Women Ultra Marathon. You and I are not invited. And while you and I, dear fellow man, may have finished a 42.195-km. marathon before, the women are staking their claim that they’re better.

It started last night at 10. If you happened to drive along the streets of Cebu City, starting at the Provincial Capitol where the km. marker reads “0,” that’s where 250 ladies embarked on their first steps.

AWUM, now on it’s 3rd year, offers a distance of 50 kms. (If you’ve ran a 5K and felt tired after, imagine multiplying that 10 times!) Organized by Think Tank and led by Dr. Wilfredo Estepa, this event is, quite possibly, “the world’s first all-ladies 50K race.”

These girls are strong. They’re tenacious. They’ve banded together. They’ve trained for several Saturday nights.

“This is about women’s empowerment. And it takes courage to run 50 kms.,” said Sun.Star Superbalita’s editor-in-chief Michelle So, an AWUM co-founder and race participant. “More so running at night. It’s showing the world the resilience of women, mentally and physically.”

The all-ladies ultra-race last night took them from the Capitol to JY Square to Marco Polo Hotel down to the Pacific Mall in Mandaue to Cansaga Bridge to the Mactan Shrine – passing through 23 hydration stations – all the way to the finish at the Alta Cebu Village Resort in Cordova.

Which means that while you’re reading Sun.Star this morning, all-night-long a few hours ago, these women from all over the nation (half of whom are first-time AWUM participants representing 27 running clubs, including Sen. Pia Cayetano and several from Tacloban) were running.

Three friends of mine who joined are doctors: Loy Tan, Mai Ugalino and Roselyn Yu. They’re barkada. They’ve completed the 42K run before. And, the past weeks, they’ve been training together, arising at 4 a.m. on Sundays to run. They practiced the 3-1 run-walk strategy. Run for three minutes, walk for a minute.

Their cheerers? Their loyal husbands – also marathoners and physicians – Charles Tan, Sander Ugalino, Andrei Yu.

“Pacers are not allowed in AWUM,” said Michelle. “Husbands cannot run alongside their wives. But we appreciate the help and support of family members. Also, the men who’ll man the hydration stations and who’ll treat the women runners like princesses.”

This race achieves many things. It’s bonding time for the girls. It’s bonding time for the “support squad” of husbands. It’s an event to achieve supreme fitness. It’s a whole night of sweating to show the boys that, hey, we’re not scared of the night, and, hey, like we do when we give birth while you boys can’t, we can endure more physical pain.

To these brave ladies, we applaud you. As Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “A woman is like a tea bag – you can’t tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.” Or let her run a 50 km. race.

Richard Gomez and Volleyball

(From spin.ph)

Can you believe it? Richard Gomez, one of our most famous of actors, is trying to achieve a feat that’s never been done before. Not by Pacman. Or Paeng. Or Bata Reyes. Or Jaworski.

He’s vying for a spot in the men’s national volleyball squad. The players will compete in the 18-nation tournament called the PLDT Home Fibr Asian Men’s Volleyball Club Championship (AMVCC) that runs from April 8 to 16.

How old is the actor-athlete? Goma turns 48 on April 7. He hasn’t made the team. Not yet. And, I presume, just because he’s handsome and prominent and is married to Leyte congresswoman Lucy Torres, that he won’t be given automatic entry.

An actor joining the Philippine team in a physical sport like volleyball is fascinating. “I am determined to join the men’s volleyball team,” Gomez said. “I’ve been joining the tryouts since coach Francis (Vicente) issued the call and I’m not going to miss this chance at serving the flag once more.”

If he makes the cut, it will be phenomenal – and not just because he’s 48. It’s because of this fact: This will be the fourth sport that Richard Gomez will join representing Team Philippines. Yes, four national squads – in rowing, fencing, shooting…. Volleyball?

“Gomez first joined the national team for rowing in the early 1990s,” said the article, “Juico believes Richard Gomez will be an asset to national volleyball team,” from the popular sports website Spin.ph.

“He spent several years with the national fencing team for which he contributed a Southeast Asian Games bronze medal in 1995 in Brunei, two silver medals in 1997 in Jakarta, another silver in 2001 in Malaysia, a gold medal in 2003 in Vietnam and another gold medal in 2005 in Manila. Gomez also doubled as an entry in the shotgun event in the sport of shooting in the 2005 SEA Games in Manila, where he placed fourth.”

To be a national squad member is, by itself, difficult. To be a member of two events is herculean. The one other prominent athlete that I can think of is Bea Lucero, now married to Jean Henri Lhuillier. She won a bronze medal in 1992 when taekwondo was a demonstration sport in the Barcelona Olympics. Prior to that, she won gold at the 1987 SEA Games in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Goma is attempting to join his fourth sport at the elite, national level.

“Gomez would be a welcome addition to the new national team,” said Philip Juico, the AMVCC organizing committee chairman who was formerly the head of the Philippine Sports Commission. Aside from his leadership, his experience playing for the three national teams will be a big factor for the team.”

The Philippine Volleyball Federation (PVF) is conducting the tryouts at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum. Gomez is among the 30 players vying for a spot. The final composition will be announced this Sunday.

Volleyball isn’t new to Gomez. He first played the game in grade school and joined competition in high school at the Arellano University. “Every since I was young, I really enjoyed playing volleyball. It was really part of my daily routine,” said Gomez in Spin.ph.

The sport appears to be his “first love,” playing it even before he got into his multitude of activities, which include golf and basketball. In college, he competed at the Polytechnic University. When asked when he last competed, he replied in the Spin.ph article, “Matagal, more than a decade na wala akong volleyball. So when I came back, I began playing for small clubs muna and then major club competitions hanggang umabot dito (sa PSL).”

Wrote Mei-Lin Lozada for Spin.ph, “Ever competitive, Gomez said he won’t allow himself to be just an ornament in the tournament, much less be a liability to his team when he’s on the court. He is out to win.

“I train with them (PLDT) everyday,” Gomez said. “Ako naman personally, I don’t want to enter the tournament na hindi rin ako prepared, I will not allow myself to be a mediocre player. I will train hard and play my best and hopefully we will get the championship.”

I hope Goma makes it.

Thirsty Cup: Quenching your football thirst

It started 11 years ago; a simple idea to gather footballers of all ages and sizes to one venue, one weekend, one sport. It’s the Thirsty Football Cup and, each February, the numbers have grown and ballooned. Last year, a record 340 teams joined. Multiplying that by a conservative 10 players per squad, that’s well over 3,000 players. It’s humongous.

Starting tomorrow, the 11th Thirsty Cup will kick off once again at the Cebu City Sports Center. Instead of last year’s three venues, the organizers decided on just one location for all 249 teams. This way, parents and coaches won’t have to hop, like a Sunsport football, from one spot to another.

It’s festival-type. The matches are shortened. The pitches, smaller. The players, fewer. The goal is to score goals and goals. The aim is to crowd multiple games in a brief span of time. Loud music will echo from CCSC’s speakers. Free wi-fi will allow spectators to post Instagram photos. Visitors are arriving and they’ll flood the fields. One notable visitor is “imported.” Yes. While Koreans are seen everywhere in our island, there’s one team that’s flying directly from Korea (South K. not North Korea, as we joked in the press-con). This squad is expected to land in Mactan today.

The 11th Thirsty Cup begins at 5 p.m. tomorrow and will be played throughout Friday night. By “throughout,” I mean all the way until midnight. Then, the next day, the games resume. That will last until late Saturday night. Finally, on Sunday, it’s the same day-and-night competition until the Men’s Open final game is contested late, late this weekend. (Good thing it’s a holiday on Monday!)

The Don Bosco Football Alumni group, led by Chad Songalia and Neil Montesclaros, are, as they’ve been the past decade, the lead organizers. My brother Charlie, who helped conceptualize this fast-paced event, is to be thanked for organizing the Thirsty Cup. This event is sanctioned by the Cebu Football Association, led by Engr. Ricky Dakay, Rico Navarro and the CFA board. Visit the Abellana grounds this weekend. Your thirst for this sport of Lionel Messi will surely be satisfied.

It’s about time! Cebu City hosts the CVIRAA

The most powerful man in Cebu City did the most unexpected of acts last Sunday. He shared his cellphone number. Not to one or five or nine guests – but to over 6,000 people!

Mayor Michael Lopez Rama, while delivering his Inspirational Message to the thousands from all over Central Visayas who had gathered for the Opening Ceremony of the CVIRAA, wanted to ensure that every athlete and official was taken-cared of. That, in the event of an emergency, they could call on one person. Himself. As host. No less than the mayor. And so, with a booming voice that reverberated throughout the Cebu City Sports Center, he rattled off his mobile number to a shocked audience…

That wasn’t the only surprise of the night. For our Region 7 neighbors, they were treated to a spectacular welcome that only Ricky Ballesteros can concoct.

Five of the top winners of the recent Sinulog competition performed. To us seated at the VIP Section, it was a spectacle watching four schools (Banilad Elem., Apas, Don Sergio Osmeña Sr. and Abellana) and the grand champion, Lumad Basakanon. With perfect weather and a slightly cool breeze that danced inside the complex, everybody was in awe.

It started with a parade at 3 p.m. Just like the Olympics, the various contingents walked from Fuente Osmeña towards the CCSC. The students – elementary and high school athletes – circled the oval.

Each delegation wore their unique colors. As they stood on the giant stage, they faced the audience then performed a short chant. Take Carcar City. Theirs was “Pao… pao.. pao!” It was a shortcut for “ampao,” the famous rice cake of Carcar.

Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo walked with his delegation. He was there with DepEd chief Dr. Sal Jimenez. As hosts last year (including hosting the 2013 Palarong Pambansa), it was their duty to formally turn-over the event to Cebu City.

Mayor Rama walked with his athletes. Dressed in the full gear of the CEBU CITY NINOS – yellow and green shirt, jogging pants and cap – he also wore a bright neon orange hi-cut Nike basketball shoes. With a whistle hanging on his neck, he often pulled it upfront and whistled the Sinulog beat.

Vice Mayor Edgar Labella also wore the full attire. CCSC Chairman Edward Hayco led Team Cebu City.

The CVIRAA is one of the biggest grassroots sporting events of our region. It encompasses every major sport. All municipalities and cities are represented. Led by the Dept. of Education (DepEd), all 19 divisions are represented. More than 10,000 athletes are in Cebu City this whole week to compete.

DepEd Cebu City Division Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Rhea Mar Angtud gave a beautiful speech saying that, despite the twin destructions of the typhoon and the earthquake, these won’t stop us from gathering and competing. Physical Education and School Sports (PESS)-7 chief Vivian Ginete had an important role: she introduced every delegation, including their heads and top officials. Finally, top DepEd official (Director III) Dr. Carmelita Dulangon rendered a message without any notes. She was very inspiring, speaking from the heart. Among the athletes, our home’s 15-year-old tennis champ, Jana Pages, was chosen to lead the Oath of Sportsmanship.

Then, another spectacle – the lighting of the torch, led by volleyball star Ulyross Lopez. Patterned after the Barcelona Olympics, two lighted sticks zoomed from the front to light the cauldron.

Moments later, during the finale and while watching Lumad Basakanon perform, I whispered to my seatmate: “Mayor Mike, it’s been 14 years since we last hosted the CVIRAA.”

It’s about time! he replied. The Palaro, next? I asked. Visayas is hosting in 2016… and the last time we hosted was in 1994 – or 20 years ago. He answered, like he often does, with a smile. I’d take that as a Yes.

From Russia, with Putin’s love

Let the Games begin! Past 12 midnight (Phil. time) yesterday, the Sochi Olympics started. I tried to stay awake late the other night but couldn’t find the TV5 coverage. CNN showed snippets leading to the Opening but no HD channel was made available by SkyCable.

Based on what I read, it was spectacular. Armed with over $50 billion worth of expenses, it better be a grand spectacle. Some notes that I picked up from the Opening…

Maria Sharapova, who grew up in Sochi, was one of the top athletes (she’s an Olympic silver medalist) who carried the torch before the cauldron was lighted.

Another top Russian athlete who also carried the torch in the final moments was Alina Kabayeva. She may not be that familiar but she’s a top gymnast – though that’s not the “tsismis” story. This one is: she’s the girlfriend of Vladimir Putin. Only 30, she’s pretty and bright and is a Russian politician. Although Kremlin denies it, almost everyone in Russia knows that the now-divorced Putin and her are a couple. Did she get the torch bearer part because of her “insider” relationship with the Russian president? Ha-ha. That’s the tabloid story. But she is, in fact, an Olympic gold medalist in rhythmic gymnastics.

Putin with Alina Kabaeva

What went wrong in the Opening? It appears that only one moment wasn’t right. It was the unveiling of the five Olympic rings; they started as snowflakes and emerged to become rings… the problem was: only four of the five rings opened! The nearly 40,000 in attendance inside Sochi stadium witnessed it.

But, not to worry, the Russians came prepared. For the TV viewers, they quickly deleted that malfunction portion, inserted the “correct” recording where all five Olympic rings were shown (taken from the rehearsal), so that TV viewers saw the “perfect” version. It’s somewhat similar to the Beijing Olympics when they included pre-recorded footages in the supposed “live” version. But the Russian manipulation is worse. Still, many call it a necessary act. They say: For the billion-people worldwide TV audience, you can’t show the Olympics with four rings.

SM2SM Run 2014

Like the mall giant does every Valentine’s, it’s the much-awaited SM2SM Run on Feb. 16. Why SM to SM? Because runners start the race at the SM City Cebu then traverse the SRP road towards the latest Henry Sy-owned mall that will open end of next year: the SM Seaside City.

What makes this race unique – apart from the 3K, 6K, 12K and 21K distances and with over P250,000 in prizes – is the date: Valentine’s. The SM2SM Run, on its 4th staging this 2014, will be held two days after Feb. 14. And like they do each time, there’s the Couples Categories for the 12K and 21K. The husband-and-wife (or boyfriend/girlfriend?) tandem have to cross the finish line together. Holding hands and drained with sweat, what better way to cross that finish line next Sunday.

To all participants, the Race Kit distribution will start this Wednesday at The Event Centre of the SM City Cebu. See you next Sunday for the race.