Good poll results for many PBA hosts

ALL WEEK long following the May 13 polls, I spent my time gathering the names of athletes past and present and people connected to sports one way or the other who ran for a post in the just concluded elections.

Like Mark Cagas, for example, who streamed into the consciousness of PBA fans when he played host to the May 2013 PBA All-Star Weekend in his hometown (Digos) in Davao del Sur where he ran for governor.

The annual, high-profile spectacle should have immensely boosted Cagas’ chances of winning, just as it had all the other politicians from all over the country who had promoted the PBA games in their territory. Unfortunately, he lost.

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“Except for Cagas, almost all the politicians who had organized and promoted the PBA games in their area won in the last elections,” said PBA media bureau chief Willie Marcial, who coordinates the provincial games. He cited a number of winners:

“To start with, there’s Imee Marcos, who won as governor of Ilocos Norte,  who has in her team Mayor Cybil Fariñas and her husband, Vice Mayor Mike Fariñas. A favorite venue, Laoag hosted the PBA All-Star Weekend last year and some years earlier.”

“Then there’s  Ali Dimaporo, governor of Lanao Del Norte,  JJ Suarez, governor of Quezon, Noel Rosal, mayor of Legazpi, Albay, lawyer Jose Silvosa Sr., mayor of Panabo City, Davao Del Norte, Frederick “Wantan” Palanca, vice mayor of Victorias, Bacolod, Mayor Uy of Dipolog, Mayor  Dimacuha of Batangas… I don’t remember their first names.”

“Of course a regular promoter of the PBA games is Jun Ynares, who won as mayor of Antipolo. The Ynares Gym in Antipolo is one of the regular venues of the games.”

“By the way, there’s a ray of sunshine  in the Cagas campaign in Davao del Sur. Although Mark lost in the gubernatorial race, his mother Didi won a congressional seat in one of the districts,” said Willie.

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HOOPVINE: Congratulations are also in order for the following sports people. Topping the list is no other than boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, congressman-reelectionist of Sarangani province and his wife Jinkee, vice mayor of the same province (Manny’s brother Roel was not as lucky. He lost his congressional bid in  South Cotabato); San Miguel’s Henry Cojuangco, congressman of Tarlac; Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao, now congressman, first district of Pampanga; Lilia Pineda and son Dennis, Pampanga governor and vice governor, respectively, owner of the D-League’s EA Regens Medical Group team; reelectionist governor Alvaro Antonio of Cagayan and the owner of the Cagayan Rising Suns, coached  by son-in-law Alvin Pua; and daughter Criselda Antonio Pua, wife of Alvin and mayor of  Alcala, Cagayan. Other winners included former PBA player Jason Webb, councilor of Parañaque; Air21 head coach Franz Pumaren, councilor of the 4th district of Quezon City; ex-PBA player Mar Morelos, councilor of Valenzuela, Bulacan; Jennifer Pingree Esplana, wife of former PBA player Gerry Esplana, councilor also of Valenzuela. Others who had not been too lucky but can try again next time are former PBA player and referee Tito Varela, vice mayor of Caloocan; former Petron coach Ato Agustin who ran for a congressional seat in Pampanga;  former PBA player Joey Marquez, who joined the congressional race in Parañaque; Tingting Cojuangco, wife of POC president Peping Cojuangco and mother of equestrienne Mikee Cojuangco Jaworski, who ran for senator.