Abet surgery set next week
A WEEK had passed since the event, but my friend and business associate Jacque Ruby of Discovery Cable Network was still inquiring about the opening hoopla of the PBA. Jacque said he was in Singapore last weekend and the days before that and he missed most of the big activities here in Manila. Had I wrote about it in my column, he said he would’ve read it in the Internet.
Jacque was the PBA’s marketing man several years ago .
Actually, I had intended to write about the pro league’s opening ceremonies which I watched on television at home from start to finish.
After all, it was one of the best if not the best opening I’ve witnessed in 36 seasons. Told about this, Jack asked: “Why, was there anything spectacular?”
That’s just it, there was no single spectacular element in the program—nothing out of the ordinary, but it appealed to a basketball person like me. It wasn’t too fancy, garish or show bizy, but it was entertaining in a sporty way. For the first time in many, many years, the coliseum was full on opening day—to whose credit, I don’t know. The special visual effects were of note except that on television, the cheerleading number could hardly be seen. That would have been a major attraction, just like Gary Valenciano’s performance was and for which I would have paid the price of an opening-day ticket, minus the main feature.
The governors looked dapper in their identical dark blue blazers and beige trousers as they paraded in the court and commissioner Chito Salud delivered a speech that could put history’s greatest orator to shame. It may have been a bit lengthy to some, but not to most of us, who are aware where he speaks from.
Not only from his heart but further down his belly button.
Confidentially, I told a colleague about a gut feeling that although Rudy Salud may be a good commissioner, the son would be better.
It’s just a feeling. A PBA sense I’ve developed after being around the PBA for 36 years.
* * *
“Were the muses beautiful?” Jacque wanted to know.
I told him they always are every year, although I received a complaint this year from two scribes who wanted to have their photo taken with one of the muses.
“Ang yabang pala ni Vice Ganda (Powerade muse). Kasi nagpa-picture kami with the other muses who all graciously consented, tapos we asked him kung pwede din kaming magpa-picture with him. He completely ignored us, hindi kami pinansin. I asked him about four times, finally he told us to wait awhile, yun pala iiwanan kami. Maski daw sa V-League pag nanonood s’ya, iniisnab ang mga fans na gustong magpa-picture with him,” said writer Rey Joble of GMA-7.
“Hindi siguro type ang beauty n’yo,” one of the press boys commented.
One last comment from a veteran scribe: “Miss Universe fourth runner-up Venus Raj was a major, major disappointment. No butt, no booby.”
Why did you have to ask Jacque?
* * *
Got an e-mail from PBA legend Abe King in Seattle, Washington, requesting for prayers for colleague Abet Guidaben who is scheduled for surgery on Thursday, Oct. 14 at the University Medical Center in New Jersey.
Abet will go under the knife to remove his thymus gland and hopefully alleviate his ailment known as Myasthenia Gravis.
“The surgery is only one approach, according to his doctors,” Abe said. “Abet will confer with his pre-surgery team to determine his blood type, among other things. The nature of the operation is such that he would need plenty of reserve blood for use during the actual surgery.”
To be tapped for donors, according to Abe, are his immediate relatives (children who might have similar blood types) and fellow PBA legends.
* * *
Our condolences to the family of former sportswriter and radio commentator Vivencio “Venci” Datol who passed away last Oct. 6 after a lingering illness. He was 65 years old.
Venci is survived by his wife Swedylou Liboon-Datol and children Jackielou, Jark, Jarleen, Michael, Christine and Liza, brothers Francisco Datol Jr. and Canada-based newspaper publisher/editor Mon Datol, sisters Mila Datol-Tucker, Flora Datol-Quinto and Maria Asuncion Datol-Lis. Interment is on Thursday, Oct. 14 at the Jaen Municipal Cemetery after the 9 a.m. mass at the San Agustin Church.
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