Eric vs. Chuckie

The much-awaited 36-hole final between Eric Deen and Charles Hong will be taking place today and I hope it would not rain very hard again or we’ll see another postponement of the 2007 Club Championships of Cebu Country Club.

I guess, I explained this before, but let me just reiterate that the club championships played for the current year is that for the year that has just passed.

This match was scheduled last week, but rain poured almost the entire day making it impossible to play decent golf.

The Cebu Country Club course, the oldest course in Cebu, is known to get muddy during and after downpours, which was also the reason why the match wasn’t only move to the next day but a week after.

I heard many people tell me about what they think of this match up.

Eric, who is 43 years old, has won the club championship four times.  He is a no nonsense player and many times I have written about his golfing feats not only in Cebu, but also during the annual Philippine Airlines Interclub.

Charles or Chuckie is only 19 years old, but I say he is no neophyte.  Two years ago, he made history at CCC being both the junior club and club champion. 

He has won the junior club title thrice and has competed around the country in jungolf events with a lot of success.

In the last PAL Interclub, Chuckie made it to the Manila Southwoods team.  Although he did not count on the first round that he played having flown to Bacolod from Manila that day, he made it big on the second day and was among the team’s leading scorers.

Many say Eric has nerves of steel and knows the CCC course so well since he plays there almost every day.  By the way, he is also part of the club’s history as Eric and his dad, Atty. Danny Deen, are the only father and son tandem to have both won the club championship.

There are also those who say that Chuckie’s game is so sharp these days that he can win the title.

This match will be very interesting to watch.  So, who would it be, Eric or Chuckie?

I say, it will be a close call so better head to the Cebu Country Club today and watch.

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It feels so good to know that the San Antonio Spurs have bounced back from two straight losses against the New Orleans Hornets in their Western Conference semifinal series.

Although still down, 1-2, I am hopeful that the Spurs, would be able to repeat as champion for the first time. 

Anything can still go, but then the 110-99 victory in game three seems to have been the much-needed morale booster.

* * *

Do you know that Steve Kerr is the only NBA player to have been part of a champion team four years in a row?

Kerr was with the Chicago Bulls for the 1996 to 1998 title run and then was shipped to San Antonio the next season where he won his fourth ring.

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I’d like to remind the other members of the Cebu squad and the other PMA graduates and former cadets in Cebu that the testimonial fellowship to honor Lt. Gen. Victor S. Ibrado, who was recently named Philippine Army commander, will be held this 6 p.m. at the O Club inside Camp Lapu-Lapu.

This activity would also serve as a welcome fellowship for senior Cavaliers who are now assigned in Cebu or were newly promoted like C. Supt. Federico Terte and Commodore Joel Babas.