Taft tremors

A Taft-based basketball team snatched defeat from the jaws of victory against a Recto-based team last Saturday. Thus, it ended with a 4-3 record in the first round of the UAAP basketball tournament, the worst first-round record under the present coach. The team’s three heartbreaking losses – the worst dealt by the high-flying Blue Eagles – were caused by a deficit of two to three points. In a concerned attempt to check its slide, alumni team supporters allegedly met yesterday in one of the restos they own to consider the option of a new coach. While his technical competence was agreed upon in the meeting, questions were raised over his capability to motivate his wards and achieve the proper team chemistry. Then they tackled the issue of the more senior players being reportedly miffed over their having been benched lately for below par performance. The group reportedly concluded that cohesion and the gumption to finish strong are lacking.

Clearly, they have too many superstars like the LA Lakers. Unlike the LA from the other side, from their cyrie in Loyola, the Blue Eagles are keenly watching if this team can put up a decent fight in what could be their last duel for the year. Fans from both schools are hoping that the boys from Taft will step up so there can be an exciting championship between the two to continue their fabled rivalry. But for now, these tremors from Taft are expected to adversely affect the team in the second round.

Just desserts

A hotel Ear-spy reported a disgusting episode in an event held in a 5-star Makati hotel. Delegates from a large Asian company checked in at the hotel for the major event. The next day, one of the guests lost a computer, and to keep the incident hush-hush, the hotel management coughed up a certain amount on the spot to pay for the lost equipment. But that’s not the end of it. On the day of the major event, two delegates were horrified to see cockroaches frolicking as garnishing in their dessert. The hotel’s Asian GM, who reportedly has a penchant for firing employees on a whim and who has a previous attempted rape case, was naturally furious. He called from a business trip out of the country and told the staff to make sure the Filipino executive chef is already fired before his return. Whether this is a case of negative PR tactics between competing hotels or not, the city’s health squad should start inspecting these expensive hotels more often so that guests get their just desserts.

Paper chase

A top Eye-spy reported that a local paper featured two front page stories exposing the corruption of a senior ecozone official two weeks ago. The first story was on a corruption case filed by the head of an NGO-for-hire with the Ombudsman for a sweetheart deal that favored a golf concessionaire at the club. The second story focused on the ecozone official’s agreement with a Korean firm for a tourism project that violated the ecozone’s procedures and policies. Based on this revelation, his agency’s board has put on hold 21 other similar agreements signed by the official between May and June. Like a Keystone Kops version of a paper chase, the official and his men were sighted personally commandeering trucks to confiscate all free copies of the paper within the ecozone. After that strenuous activity, the winded official banned the further delivery of the paper to all establishments within his domain. He should have enlisted Clark Kent’s alter ego to chase the offending bestsellers.

Take two

There is talk that a former senior official of a government power agency is actively seeking to replace Energy Secretary Vince Perez and is using his powerful Mindanao connection to advance his cause. Actually, this is his second attempt to get the position. Nothing wrong with ambition except that this is the same person who continued to sign onerous IPP contracts years after the power crisis was over. The resulting overcapacity has plagued us all for years now. How can government be credible if their point man for energy was responsible for the sector's biggest problem? Besides, he is not qualified under the law. To be Secretary of Energy, one must not have been involved in any energy related activity for two years prior to the appointment. This guy's been active in the sector even now.

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