Cebu Sports Blog by John Pages

The Fantastic Four: Novak, Roger, Andy and Rafa

When Jasmin and I watched him play last August, he was a disaster. Facing the unheralded Lu Yen-Hsu (yes, Hsu is this guy?) of Taipei, Andy Murray lost 7-6, 6-4. In the first round. Representing the great Great Britain. During the Beijing Olympics. Minutes after that loss, I recall stepping out of Court One of the Olympic Green Tennis Centre and seeing Andy’s mother, Judy Murray, walking alone. I considered approaching her to say hi but, after that desolating loss, I’d bet she was in a foul mood for a chit-chat.

Lift weights! Seven reasons why we should

Two weeks ago I bought myself a Christmas present: a bench press set with barbell and weights from JB Sports. With the dumbbells that I previously kept, I hung a full-size mirror on the cement wall, installed a portable speaker for the iPod Nano and created for myself a mini-gym at home.

Strength-training. Is it essential in sports? To musclemen like LeBron or Manny P. or Nadal—we know that weight-lifting has elevated their status to the top-most echelon of sports. But, to you and me, ordinary folks, is lifting weights important? To our fitness?

Sinulog Marathon Press Conference Photos

From 12 noon until 1:30 p.m. today, the organizers and sponsors of the Mizuno-Asia Miles Sinulog Half-Marathon ’09 held a press-con at the Mooon Cafe in Guadalupe…

Standing (from left): John Pages, Jesse Taborada, Raffy Uytiepo and Dr. Renald Ramiro; seated: Noy Jopson, Vicky Yue, Perl Jacalan, Meyrick Jacalan and Bert Banzon

Want it ASAP? Look for Meyrick and Perl

Registration for the Mizuno-Asia Miles Sinulog Half-Marathon ’09 is now on-going. Apart from the Cebu City Sports Center and Sug-Angan Restaurant, two other registration centers have been added: the Mizuno shop at the SM City and the Holiday Gym & Spa in Banilad. Two categories are offered: the 5K Fun Run and the 21K Half-Marathon. Either distance is perfect. For those wanting a quick sweat under one hour, the 5,000-meter run is ideal; for those seeking a long-distance workout of two or more hours—go for the Half-Marathon. Scheduled next Saturday, January 17—the morning before Sinulog—the start and finish lines will be at the Asiatown IT Park. This event is organized by the Cebu Executive Runners Club, headed by its president, Jesse Taborada. But, being part of the CERC, I’d also like to commend the help of the co-organizers of this run: Meyrick and Perl Jacalan.

Men’s Tennis Open in Bohol

The town of Ubay, Bohol—where my father-in-law, Atty. Jacinto “Jack” Mendez, was raised and continues to visit almost monthly—will play host to a major event: the Mayor Eutiquio Bernales Cup National Open Tennis Tournament. Scheduled from January 21 to 25, a total of P50,000 in prize money is allocated for the participants which, apart from top Cebuano netters like Bo Alburo and Michael Quiñones, will include high-ranking stars Johnny Arcilla, Elbert Anasta, Alexander Lazaro and Ricardo Lagac. The champion will receive P20,000, the runner, P10,000; and the semifinalists and other good performers won’t go home empty-handed. What’s best is that all out-of-town players will be accommodated in Ubay, Bohol for… free! Yes, free housing and free food will be showered upon all players. To top it all, this is a Philippine Tennis Association (Philta)-sanctioned tournament. For now, the singles event is guaranteed but a doubles tournament might also be played during the same week. All interested must register soonest. Call the event organizer, Tngardz Uy at 0920-6049060.

‘All set for Sinulog 21K,’ by Raffy Uytiepo

At The Freeman newspaper today, this article was written by the Dean of Cebu Running, Raffy Uytiepo… CEBU – It’s all systems go for the 2nd Cebu Sinulog Half – Marathon that fires off on January 17 at the Asiatown IT Park. After deliberating whether to move the race, due to time constraints, the Cebu Executive Runners Club, organizers of the race decided to stick with the same week as the Sinulog Festival in order to give out-of-towners a chance to witness the world – class festival.

Mizuno-Asia Miles Sinulog Half-Marathon ’09

After all the lechon, Queso de Bola, sweetened ham, cookies, dinuguan, spaghetti, brownies, Leona pastries, chicken relleno, fruit salad, and Marco Polo buffet that you’ve devoured the past two weeks, it’s time to join the one event that will guarantee to make you sweat: the Mizuno-Asia Miles Sinulog Half-Marathon ’09.

Armstrong pedals for another Tour de Lance ride

Ask me for my shortlist of five all-time sporting greats and this I’ll answer: One is currently the world’s No.1 pound-for-pound boxer, the other got knee-injured in golf but is now recuperating; the three others are long-retired: there’s a forehand specialist named Pete, a slam dunk champion first-named Michael and a cyclist who should have died in 1996. You all know them, right?

Well, here’s the good news. One of those three retirees is coming back…

Lance Videos

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snTIoqbjHNU[/youtube]

This 2009, if Barack Obama can… Yes We Can

Among all the superlatives that people attach beside the name of the incoming US President—“the first among 44,” “the new JFK,” “the savior of U.S.A. after the debacle named W.”—there is one more attribute that fits best on these back pages: “Exercise-in-Chief.”

Yes. Because while staring at Barack Obama’s scrawny look on CNN might give you the impression that, underneath that cover, he’s fragile and feeble—think again. He’s not.

Superman? Is he? Is there an “S” hidden underneath that dark suit? Ha-ha. It’s New Year’s Day—not April Fool’s Day—so I won’t lie to you in saying that he’s Will Smith-muscular.