Student athletes

CEBU - The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the United States has noted that student athletes are now finishing their courses in record numbers.

Studies have showed that among those who entered school in 2001 as student athletes, 79 percent have completed their courses in six years or less. The 79 percent graduation rate is even higher than the national average.

It would be interesting to know how student athletes in the Philippines are also doing.

I personally know of many former student athletes, who got to study for free because they were part of the varsity team, who are now doing well in various fields.

This reminds me of the story that former University of San Carlos Green and Gold Warrior Vince Colina told us when he was interviewed for membership at the Alta Vista Golf and Country Club.

Vince or Inting to his teammates and peers like Bobby Barria, was a long-time resident of the United States before coming back home. He said that many of the Americans would be surprised when he told them that he finished school for free because he played basketball.

You can really get a degree in the Philippines if you are also serious about your education.

My favorite teacher in my brief (one school year) stint at the University of San Jose Recoletos, Mrs. Benita Mabuyo, told the student athletes in our classes not to use their being varsity players as a reason to be absent or to fail to do good in class.

She would always tell them that one of her best students was no less than the star of the school’s collegiate basketball team during the early to mid-80’s, Isabello ‘Jojo’ Lastimosa, who got very high grades in Mrs. Mabuyo’s classes.

My high school and collegiate volleyball teammate Carl Abad Bugarin was also the star of our volleyball team. Although at the University of the Philippines Cebu we did not get any scholarships as varsity players, but Carl showed that you can do well in both sports and academics.

He finished Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with honors as he balanced his passion in numbers and volleyball up to so many decimal places.

I hope that our current crop of student athletes would always bear in mind that while their athletic abilities are important, it is also only proper that they also take school seriously. Our athletic skills can only last for so many years, but the education that we earn can last a lifetime.

Manny Pacquiao is probably a good example on this aspect as the world champion also made sure that he’d work on getting a degree despite the millions he is making on and off the ring.

There have been many rule changes in the inter-school leagues that require athletes to really be enrolled and to pass their subjects before they can compete. This is very good and I hope our school officials, coaches and league officials would not waver on this.

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MILESTONES: One of the most influential men in Cebu and Philippine sports turned a year older yesterday. I am referring to Antonio ‘Ninong Tony’ Aldeguer, the man behind the very successful ALA Boxing Club.

Since early in my career as a sports journalist, I’ve seen Ninong Tony’s passion for boxing and how he has managed to overcome many obstacles to push the sport that he loves so much. I wish him more world champions under his fold.

Advanced birthday greetings go to my friends, who are both in the US, Mona Liza Ponce-Wright and Anne Paulin-Tabligan, who are celebrating tomorrow.

 More power! (THE FREEMAN)