The Espinosa purse case, other topics

WHY DID the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) chair warn Luisito Espinosa to settle his unpaid purse out of court—otherwise he would be unable to collect?

That’s from boxing expert Hermie Rivera, original manager of Espinosa, now cooling his heels in Newark, California. Rivera was irate upon reading a report that the current GAB big boss has supposedly advised the luckless former world champ to settle out of court, because he’s up against “big, important people.”

Rivera finds the advice unfortunate because, he explains, it was the GAB, then under former President Fidel Ramos, which anomalously allowed the staging of the WBC world featherweight championship in Koranadal, South Cotabato in 1997, although the stipulated payments were still pending.

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It’s no secret Espinosa is up against the family of a former Supreme Court justice, Rivera says, adding the former two-time world champ (bantamweight and featherweight), now based in Hong Kong as a boxing trainer, hopes to come home.

Espinosa has been separated from his wife, but hopes to visit his children in Pangasinan once he’s able to get hold of a little cash.

The family of the late boxing matchmaker Rod Nazario has been ordered by the Court of Appeals to pay Espinosa P17 million, excluding interests.

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From the multiawarded filmmaker, Dik Trofeo, my friend and idol: “Sports for life is a way of life. A discipline in physical fitness, not by an armchair theory or wagging of tongue after a debacle. Observe the youth of other countries above us in the medal standings. At 4 in the morning, they jog in groups in country road and highways, while our youth are still snoring. What a life. Sports?”

From sports development guru, Dr. Aparicio Mequi: “The perennial excuse of sports officials for mediocre performance of ‘trying their best’ is meaningless because ‘no one tries his/her worst.’” Also, the insistence of POC officials to host the SEA Games 2017 is absurd; when they know beforehand PH is bidding to host the Fiba 2017 World Cup of Basketball.”

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From former Sen. Nikki Coseteng: “Wish us Godspeed! July 1, we leave for Gwangju, South Korea, to participate in the Universiade 2015. Follow this event in the news, internet, etc. Share with us the joy as we were blessed with sponsors who gave us the chance we will never forget. We join 20,000 College Student Athletes from 170 countries in the Biggest International Games of them all. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas.”

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From the friendly avid Bible reader Ted Tiu: “I thank the Lord for my grandson Nico Eulogio Parungao, son of Teofano ‘Jun’ Tiu Jr. He’s Top Ten placer in the 2015 Nursing Licensure Examination. He is a graduate of the Angeles University Foundation College of Nursing. My son Jun used to play for RFM in the PBL under coach Yeng Guiao.”