Lou, the proud dad

I wrote several columns ago about needing one more person to complete the three-man screening committee of the Cebu Sports Hall of Fame.

Last week, I actually got the nod of the third member and we're happy to bring him on board, lawyer Hidelito Pascual, who writes a sports column for Cebu Daily News.

By tradition, the screening committee has been composed of mediamen, sports journalists in particular.

The original committee was composed of Orlando 'Orlacsan' C. Sanchez, Wilfredo 'Boy' Veloso, and Atty. Manuel 'Maning' Oyson.

Confirming earlier his willingness to be part of the committee is Emilio 'Junmigs' Migallen, jr., sports editor of Sun Star Super Balita.

Our task of screening the nominees for enshrinement into the sports hall of fame is yet to start, but I am already encouraging those who may have nominees to send their pertinent information and supporting documents to the Cebu City Sports Commission.

Basic qualifications for consideration are the following: the candidate must have been born in Cebu, must have represented the country in the international level, or had been a legend in his field. Of course, not all kinds of international competitions will automatically qualify somebody to be in the hall of fame.

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My grade-3 classmate Lou Regidor, who once was a star in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) playing for the Magnolia team, signed by San Miguel Beer in the PBA, and played for the Davao Eagles in the MBA, was something different the other night.

He was Lou, the father.

I've known Lou for almost 29 years and he has always been the benchmark of our class in terms of sports from running during 'dakop-dakop' and 'Japanese game' to being the tops in 'takyan' and of course also basketball.

The other night, though we talked briefly about our younger years and the coming get-togethers of our class, we talked about something else - his daughter Lou Therese.

Niña, as she is called, is only 14 years old and is a sophomore in high school at the University of San Carlos-Basic Education Department South Campus, the same school where Lou and I spent some of our elementary years together.

She was the youngest and the only high school student in the team of USC that bagged the national title of the Adidas Streetball Challenge at the SM Mall of Asia.

The other members of the team were Carol Diane Comahig, Barbie Selada, and Junelle Narciso.

Like any proud dad, Lou could speak volumes about his daughter, who obviously got her dad's basketball genes.

Standing at 5 feet and 6 inches, Niña is somebody who has a bright future in the sports world, which I'm sure her dad would gladly guide her through the ins and outs.

It is always a joy to hear other fathers talk about their young athletes, because this means that there are many parents who care to help a better world for their children through sports.

I'm sure, just like other dads, Lou would be more nervous than his daughter when she's tasked to carry the team on her back. I've seen Lou do that a lot of times in his days with the USC Warriors and the Cebu Doctors Stallions and even the M. Lhuillier Jewelers, but I'm sure he'd rather be the one on the spot rather than be at the sidelines watching.

Nothing beats being a proud father of course. That's another achievement that we can always be proud of buddy.

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MILESTONE: My little sister turns a year older tomorrow. To be more exact our family's baby, Naika Luz Quiñones-Addington is turning 29 years old.

Nik-nik as we fondly call her was born a month after our father died, which made her extra special to the entire family.

Happy birthday, Nik!