Another issue

I received a call from Ryan Aznar, athletic director of Southwestern University, yesterday afternoon. Ryan, although always sounding very amiable, did not seem to be very happy yesterday.

He told me that what upset him was a sudden change in the semifinal round schedule of the basketball tournament of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI).

His team, the Cobras scored a major upset by beating the University of the Visayas Green Lancers. Based on the schedule distributed at the start of the tournament, the winner of their game against UV was supposed to meet the loser of the match between University of Cebu and University of San Carlos.

What upset Ryan was that the change was just sent via text message. The new schedule pits SWU against UC, which won the match over USC.

Ryan has issued a statement that his team is willing to face a lifetime ban and they would not play today against UC as this game was supposed to be played tomorrow yet.

To some, the matter may seem very simple, but then the pairings actually help determine the final outcome of tournaments.

If SWU faces USC, which is severely depleted, it goes to the match against UC with a 2-0 record. UC, on the other hand, will face a tough game against UV and shall be well-battered entering their next game.

I haven't been to any game of the CESAFI the past two or three seasons due to the conflict with my work schedule, but have been following the games through the reports that come out in the papers.

I hope that this latest issue hounding the CESAFI will be resolved for the good of the league and for sports in general.

I am hopeful that a dialogue will resolve the issue.

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I learned something very interesting last Wednesday - golf pro Gary Player once profusely thanked a Cebuano for taking his picture.

Well, it wasn't the act of taking the picture, but what he saw in the picture allowed Player of South Africa and winner of nine Majors, once thanked Vicente 'Vince/Inting' Colina for a picture that the Cebuano golfer took while he was living in the United States.

Vince told me the story during a visit to his office where he also showed me his collection of autographed pictures of golfers and other wonderful golf pictures.

Vince said that he took a picture of Player and a few other pros and had them printed a few months later to get the pros to autograph them during a tournament.

When he asked Player to sign the picture, Vince said that he was told to head to the tee mound of the 18th, but got blocked by a throng of fans. When Player reached the tee mound, he called to the crowd and asked for the man, who asked him to sign a picture.

Vince raised his hand and was asked to come closer.  To his surprise, Player said that he should have asked him to autograph that picture several months earlier as he would have won more money.

Apparently, the picture had shown a flaw in Player's swing.

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MILESTONES: Belated birthday greetings to our former sportswriter Rose Javier, who is now happily married in Thailand. She turned a year older yesterday.

Today's greetings go to my mistah Lt. Col. Angel Madarang, singer Cattski Espina, Karina Cantos-Bacaltos, and Merchie Miranda.

Advance birthday greetings go to Atty. Kate Go, Lt. Dennis Pacis, Elizabeth Maza, and basketball legend Ramon 'El Presidente' Fernandez, who are celebrating tomorrow.

More power to all of you!