Sendoffs
A couple of sendoffs for prominent sports personalities highlighted last week’s schedule of activities.
The first one last July 23 at Café Adriatico, was for two-time PBA MVP James Yap, who was leaving for a long European vacation with girlfriend Michela Cazzola the following day.
James said they would return to Manila on Sept. 5.
One scribe who was seated beside PBA governors Rene Pardo of San Mig Coffee and Robert Non of San Miguel Beer teased James, saying a lot of things could happen in six weeks. He and Michela could get hitched while on vacation in that very romantic continent.
Last conference’s finals MVP flashed a Mona Lisa smile as he shook his head, not uttering a single word.
“If you don’t want to get married, why don’t you just start a family? The earlier the better, to ease the pain of not being with your son Bimby,” another scribe jokingly suggested.
“If the little one turns out to be a boy, he could grow up to be a tall Filipino-Italian cager who can represent our country in international tournaments,” the scribe explained to his amused guests, who were also celebrating the San Mig Coffee Grand Slam.
“On the other hand, if it’s a girl, with the combined DNA of James and the 5-foot-8 Paris Hilton look-a-like Michela, the child could grow to be a beautiful Eurasian and future world beauty titlist.”
Everybody looked at James for a reaction, but there was none. He just listened, although his smile seemed to have faded. A bit later, he stood up, saying he still had to pack.
A columnist seated at the opposite end of the table invited him to drop by Seville, Spain, to watch the Fiba World Cup, where Gilas Pilipinas, starring his teammate Marc Pingris, would be playing. James begged off, joking that he might get lost.
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Thursday night, it was Wuhan Fiba Aisa Cup hero Paul Lee’s turn to be feted by managers Lawrence Chongson, Edgar Tan and Paula Punla at Alex III Restaurant in San Juan.
Paul was leaving for Miami in the first hour of the next day with his Gilas Pilipinas teammates. He thanked the people who supported and inspired him, among them his girlfriend of seven years, Rubie Chan, who was with him that night.
Paul said he is extremely honored to be a member of the national pool for the first time.
“I vow to give my very best and do even better in succeeding international tournaments,” said the former UE standout, the PBA’s Rookie of the Year in 2012.
From a two-week camp in Miami, Gilas will play exhibition matches in Vittoria, Spain, and an invitational tournament in Antibes, France.
He said they may head straight for Seville without returning to the Philippines, and then to Incheon, Korea, for the Asian Games, depending on their performance in the World Cup.
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Come to think of it, there was a third sendoff last week, although no trip was involved. It was a breakfast treat at Pancake House, Quezon Avenue, Tuesday morning for outgoing Patafa president Go Teng Kok, who was replaced by Philip Ella Juico in elections held last July 25 at Orchids Hotel in Vito Cruz.
“Everything went on smoothly without incident. 28 out of the 33 Patafa members came to vote,” reported GTK.
