Former sportswriter Emmanuel Perez de Tagle died in his sleep early morning Sunday at his residence at Pacita 2 Subdivision in San Pedro, Laguna.
Known as “Tito” to colleagues and friends, Tagle, acknowledged as the “walking encyclopedia” in sports, passed away at 82.
He worked for the Philippines Herald, first as a sportswriter then as sports editor before the newspaper was closed when martial law was declared in 1972. Tagle also had a stint as deskman of the Philippines News Agency before editing the now-defunct Sports World.
Tagle, who also became an official of the Basketball Association of the Philippines, had been in and out of the hospital after suffering an accident last May 3. Tagle’s body will be transferred today to the National Press Club building in Intramuros.