AND a Happy New Year to all.
This is the time of the year when we think of beginnings. And beginnings are always fun and exciting.
Every time we begin something new, we think it’s going to be better than it was last time. We look back at all the things we didn’t; get done in the year past and look forward to the things ahead of us.
This year, wouldn’t you want to see…
the Filipino athletes make the country proud in the coming Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan on July 23-Aug. 8, 2021 and the Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi , Vietnam on Nov. 21-Dec. 2, 2021?
boxing legend Manny Pacquiao delivers a performance of a lifetime in what could be his farewell fight, possibly against American great Floyd Mayweather or any other top-ranked young challenger? chess hero GM Wesley So finally gets that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to challenge world champion GM Magnus Carlsen of Norway and return home to the country to celebrate with his loyal Filipino fans?
Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino and Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez continue to work hard together and guide the Filipino athletes to greater heights?
Games and Amusements Board (GAB) Chairman Abraham “Baham” Mitra and Commissioners Mar Masanguid and Eduard Trinidad continue to lead the way in promoting the welfare of professional athletes even during the most trying times due to the coronavirus pandemic?
Ramirez and commissioners Ramon Fernandez, Charles Maxey, Arnold Agustin and Celia Kiram to continue to have President Duterte’s ear and with it, an unlimited financial assistance to push their program in sports?
the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), headed by Commissioner Willie Marcial, come up with more exciting, more action-packed games in Asia’s first play-for-pay league to keep the basketball fans happy following a year of lockdowns?
the Philippine Racing Commission (PHILRACOM), now headed by newly-appointed Chairman Rellie de Leon, continues to provide a boost to the horseracing industry still trying to recover lost ground due to the pandemic
PBA legend Robert “Big J” Jaworski makes a much-awaited return to the hardcourt as a coach-consultant of one of his two former teams — crowd favorite Barangay Ginebra or Meralco?
past sports greats, like Efren “Bata” Reyes (billiards), Paeng Nepomuceno (bowling), Eugene Torre (chess), Tac Padilla (shooting), Eric Buhain (swimming) and Lydia de Vega (track and field) take a more active role in their respective NSAs to ensure fast turnover of talents?
over-staying and under-achieving sports leaders muster the courage to tell each other, “Well gentlemen, it’s been a pleasure to serve our NSAs but I think it’s time to go and give others the chance to lead?
Samboy Lim, the one and only “Skywalkwer” in the Philippine basketball, finally get a clean bill of health and rejoin fellow PBA legends Alvin Patrimonio, Allan Caidic, Bong Alvarez, Pido Jarencio, Marlou Aquino, Vince Hizon, Noli Locsin, Nelson Asaytono and Bal David during their fund-raising Legends tours?
the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP), headed by Commissioner Atty. Paul Elauria, finds the winning strategy in its long-term goal to become the PBA of Philippine chess?
the UAAP, NCAA, NAASCU, UCBL and UCSAA continue to serve as good breeding ground for outstanding young players who can someday represent the country in major international competitions?
the Metro Basketball Tournament, a brainchild of coach Bonnie Tan and the Metro Manila Develoment Authority (MMDA), continues to become a regular source of young and outstanding basketball talents?
the Community Basketball Association, headed by actor-sportsman Carlo Maceda, makes a successful return following a year of inactivity due to the pandemic?
the Pinoy Youth Dreamers of coach Beaujing Acot and Youth Basketball Cup of coach Rensy Bajar achieve their goals of discovering more talented young players and help in fulfilling their life-long dreams?
And wouldn’t you want to see that the long-delayed, long-denied justice is finally served so that Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) secretary-general Graham Lim would be finally allowed to return home to his family after a long exile?
Well-known American sportswriter Rick Reilly made a similar wish list for American sports in one of his columns back in 2002.
I wonder if we can have the same wishful thinking here and still come out without getting terribly disappointed.
Wishful thinking? Let’s hope not.
NOTES — Happy birthday to Imelda Acamine, who will celebeate her special day on Jan. 4…
Birthday greetings, too, to our ERJHS Batch 81 friends — Mary Jane Castro (Jan. 1), Rosemarie De Vera-Godfrey (Jan. 3), Esmeralda Parial Torrico (Jan 3); Jojo Dizon (Jan 8); Sarie Benitez (Jan 9); and Nano Crispino (Jan 12) …
Welcome home to my inaanak Mary Andaya and her son Shan Paulo, who quietly slipped into the country for a short vacation during the holidays.
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