Get high on sports At sports exchange

CEBU, Philippines - Whenever the world’s greatest boxer commences his excruciating trainings for a phenomenal match covered by major television channels, the world stops, the Philippine crime rate decreases to zero percent since all eyes are glued on the boob tube. This is a classic representation of how we embrace SPORTS.

The growing community of enthusiasts forms a framework of a feasible venture for sports buff Kevin Cook, which is to create a venue where fellow aficionados convene to compare notes, watch their sports heroes on the podium and pop the corks for victory parties. Cook hit the bull’s eye on October 30, 2009 when he launched Sports Exchange Bar & Grill at the 3rd floor of Mango Square, General Maxilom Avenue.

Now in full swing, Cook exclaims: “This is the largest sportsbar in the Visayas; in fact, the only real sportsbar in the Visayas. This might even be the only dedicated sportsbar in the Philippines.” 

When you walk into this 500 square-meter edifice, you walk into a humungous stadium of pseudo metal plate-finished flooring, steel girdles and concrete columns, walls decorated with murals that capture every single sport, gears/equipment accessories for accent…and so the illusion is at work. When you proceed to the bar perched at the heart of the structure, you take the audience seat — under the ceiling painted with sky above a baseball diamond – and scream “Yankees!” in your mind!

You are transported into an arena where the emotions spell nothing but thrill. The playing fields are set before you to take part in the action or rightfully so, to unleash the MVP in you; and around you are the cheering squad composed of legends, no less.

The murals of frozen action pictures are works of Filipino painter Ariel Caratao. Among the notable ones are the Olympic gold, silver and bronze awarding ceremony in 2002; the Olympic ice hockey match between Russia and Canada; and Olympic racing. Moreover, snaps of different sporting events and sports heroes such as basketball pro Yao Ming, our very own Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, promising boxer Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista, pool king Efren “Bata” Reyes, among others, are all over alongside jerseys of baseball, football, rugby, etc. which are collections of the architect himself, James Dossetter, a semi-retired world-renowned designer. “He’s well connected in sports that’s why he knows the sporting angles,” revealed Cook while explaining Dosetter is the “man” for the job.   

So, every devout sports fan has a spot in Sports Exchange. Three world-class international pool tables are clustered across the foyer, dart boards are mounted at the far left, a chess station gathers around blacks and whites, two tables are dedicated for card games/poker, and not the least, with 10 flat TV screens and an ultra large screen (with surround sound technology) all showing just about any major sports program network in the world. “We have acquired the most sophisticated TV satellite system that comes from Super Sport. We get every game live here,” bared Cook. The Football World Cup, by far the largest sporting event in the world, games will be aired live come June. “This will be the home of the World Cup,” Cook added.

One thing noticeable here is a set of green boards hung close to the entrance with scribbles of sports clinics announcements and competitions around town. “I want them (organizers) to consider this as their own clubhouse.”

Sports Exchange has a simple menu that consists of a mouthwatering line-up of pica-pica and Western style good eats. The chef recommends Spicy Squid (P145) and Pork Long Ribs as perfect beer matches, say a draft bar for only P45. Daily and weekly specials out of the menu are posted at the full bar. On Sundays, live acoustic music will ring in the ears while viewing clips of Super Bowl, Australian Open and whatnots.

Soon, the management will be putting in at least one, maybe two, exact replicas of Formula One racing cars from 2007. Maybe a Ferrari, a replica of Michael Schumacher’s which he drove during his last victory with Ferrari; and if they’re doing a second one that would be a McLaren Mercedes. The car attached to a computer, operated by a sophisticated technology which is sort of a Wii where one can even feel the bumps while going around the circuit — totally unique!

For a maximum of 130 seating capacity, Sports Exchange is poised to attract adherents, aside from opening their doors to corporate clients for private functions. Visit them daily from 4PM to 4AM.