INQUIRER Sports

OVER TWO months ago, police officers, responding to an emergency call, rushed to the Baja Sharkeez, a bar in the Pier Plaza of Hermosa Beach in California.

The officers found just outside the bar a young man bleeding profusely. He had been stabbed several times on the chest and other parts of his body.

A bloodied knife was on the ground, obviously dropped by the perpetrator who had fled on foot just before the officers arrived on the scene.

The victim, identified as a resident of Torrance, was brought to a nearby hospital. Fortunately, he survived.

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According to witnesses, the victim had gotten into an argument with a woman inside the bar who sought the help of a male friend to settle the matter.

Because the squabbling parties were causing too much disturbance, they were kicked out of the establishment.

Outside, however, the squabbling continued and later escalated into a fight between the victim and the woman?s friend, who allegedly pulled out a knife and repeatedly stabbed his adversary.

One version of the report said the woman fled with the perpetrator. People at the bar later identified her and she was traced by the police.

However, she was very uncooperative and refused to give any information regarding her friend who could not be located or identified initially. He was described as Filipino, about 5-foot-10 tall and in his early 20s.

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It took more than a week before detectives could find out the full name of the suspect, but the information ended there. His name did not show up in any computer base.

They found stories about a man with the same name, though, after some Google research. However, the man was old enough to be the suspect?s father. And he was in jail after being convicted of manslaughter in a stabbing case.

His name was Rudy Distrito. Detectives found out he had a son named Rudy Jr., aged 23.

The news stories mentioned the wife of Rudy Sr. who was traced in an apartment in Wilmington, California.

Rudy Jr. was soon arrested, but is currently out on bail. He is facing charges of assault with a deadly weapon.

Newspaper accounts did not give out the name of the victim or Rudy Jr.?s woman friend ?for their protection.?

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HOOPVINE: Coca-Cola governor JB Baylon was missing during last Friday?s Hall-of-Fame ceremonies at the Makati Shangri-La. His alternate, Gerard Francisco, said he has been neck-deep in relief work since tropical storm ?Ondoy.? Incidentally, the opening ceremonies of the PBA?s 35th season today is being presented by Coke. Special guests are led by legends Sonny Jaworski, Atoy Co, Philip Cezar and Manny Paner? During the PBA preseason press conference at the Diamond Hotel, chair Lito Alvarez of Burger King confirmed that under the SBP constitution and by-laws, the professional stakeholder, the PBA, is tasked to form the elite national team for elite competitions like the Fiba-Asia. ?However, we are giving that honor to the SBP,? Lito said? Rain or Shine owner Raymond Yu is looking for a finals finish this season. Last conference, the Elasto Painters made it as far as the semifinal round. ?I believe we are stronger this year,? said Raymond, who along with partner Terry Que, has beefed up the Rain or Shine lineup...

E-mail from Jojo Gamboa, member of the Ateneo juniors? squad that won back-to-back titles in 1975-76 with the Ateneo seniors in the NCAA: Ateneans are overjoyed with the back-to-back championships of the Seniors and Juniors team in the UAAP. It took 33 long years before we could repeat the feat? Considered as Ateneo?s glorious years, the first was accomplished by seniors Chito Narvasa, Joy Carpio, Fritz Gaston, Padim Isael, Bambi Kabigting, Louie Rabat, among others. Aside from Jojo, others in the Juniors? team were Ogie Narvasa, Rayboy Narvasa and Danny Daez. Jojo is the father of cagers Kevin and Mike, also members of Ateneo champion teams.