95 Cebuano sporting greats

CEBU, Philippines - As The Freeman celebrates its 95th anniversary today, the country's second oldest-existing newspaper also pays tribute to 95 Cebuano sporting greats who have left a lasting legacy in their respective disciplines. Their stirring exploits earned them a spot in hallowed portals of the Cebu Sports Hall of Fame.

1. GABRIEL 'FLASH' ELORDE. Considered the greatest Filipino boxer of all-time, he holds the record as the longest reigning world boxing champion. A Hall of Famer in the prestigious World Boxing Council, he reigned as the WBC junior lightweight king for a period of seven years and three months (1960-1966).

2. FRANCISCO VESTIL. A member of the Philippine basketball team that competed in the 1928 London Olympics as well as in the 1940 Far East Games held in Tokyo, Japan, he also formed part of the Visayan Institute (now the University of the Visayas Green Lancers) that became the first ever provincial team to win the National Open Basketball Championships in 1937-1938.

3. ANTONIO ALO.  A former member of the national track and field team who was once a record-holder in pole vault.

4. EDUARDO CORTES. Known as the "Basketball Magician of the Philippines, he donned the country's colors during the 1940 Far East Games in Tokyo, Japan. He was also played for the history-making Visayan Institute that ruled the National Open Championships in 1937-38.

5. FRANCISCO MANZANARES. A baseball star who represented Phl in the Far Eastern Games three times in 1925 (Manila), 1927 (Shanghai), and  1930 (Tokyo).

6. INOCENCIA SOLIS. A track and field star who competed for the flag and country during the 3rd Asian Games in Tokyo in 1958.

7. BIBIANO OUANO. A member of the Phl men's basketball team that saw action in the 1936 Rome Olympics.

8. JOAQUIN ROXAS  JR. Named Mr. Philippines for his exemplary hoop skills, he was a two-time Olympian in 1964 Tokyo and 1968 Mexico Olympics.

9. FRANCISCA SANOPAL. A gold medallist in athletics event during the 3rd Asian Games in Tokyo (1958). Two years before that, she participated in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics via the women's 80m hurdles event.

10. ELBERTO BANZON. A veteran marathoner, he placed sixth in his age-group and 29th overall out of a strong field of 345 entries during the 11th Honolulu Marathon in 1983. During that year, he also took part in the 3rd World Invitational Marathon.

11.  HUGO RAMAS. A decorated baseball player who donned the Phl jersey in the Far East Games six times in 1915, 1917, 1919, 1921, 1923, and 1925.

12. BERNABE VILLACAMPO. An amateur standout and national boxing champion, he reached the peak of his career after winning World Boxing Association flyweight title in 1969.

13. PABLO SOMLINGO. The 1957 Philippine Open Track champion who holds the 400-meter run national record for 25 years.

14. JOSEPHINE DE LAVINA. A member of the national track and field team that took part in the 1964 Tokyo, 1968 Mexico and 1972 Munich Olympics. She was once hailed as the 'discus throw queen of Asia.'

15. MARCELA ALONZO-BANGOT. A national record-holder in javelin throw (1961), she had a stint in the Asian Games twice in 1962 (Indonesia) and in 1966 (Bangkok, Thailand).

16. HIPOLITO BACLAY. He both excelled in athletics and in baseball, representing Phl in the Far East Games three times in 1913, 1915, and 1917.

17. VICENTE DIANA. A national record-holder in discus throw in 1929. Four years later, he saw action in the Far East Games.

18. PERLA DADULA-JANEA. A member of the Phl women's volleyball team that competed in the 4th Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. She also played in a pre-Olympics Asian Zone tournament.

19-20. MARIANO SABERO and ANGEL MEDALLE. Both members of the Phl baseball team during the 1934 Far East Games.

21-22. LAURO MUMAR and RAMON MANULAT.  Member of the national team that grabbed bronze medal during the 1954 World Basketball Championships in Rio de Janiero, Brazil. Mumar also had a stint in the 1948 London Olympics, while Manulat saw action in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.

23. NAPOLEON FLORES. Like Mumar and Manulat, he was part of the Phl squad that placed third in the 1954 World Basketball Championships. It was the Phl's best ever finish in an international tournament.

24. VIVIAN UY. A member of the Phl squad that saw action in the 1985 and 1987 SEA Games in Bangkok and Jakarta, respectively.

25. MANUEL PANER. A member of the Phl Youth team in the 1970 World Youth Basketball Championships in Seoul, South Korea. The first PBA one-on-one king also saw action in the 1972 Munich Olympics and in the 1974 World Basketball Championships in Puerto Rico.

26. GENARIO BAY FERNANDEZ.  A member of the national basketball team that took part in the 1st Asian Games in New Delhi, India in 1952.

27. RAMON FERNANDEZ.  Perhaps the most decorated Filipino basketball player of all-time, he suited for the Phl team in the 1972 ABC Youth Championships and the 1973 ABC Men's Championships both in Manila, in the 1974 Asian Games in Iran and the World Basketball Championships in Puerto Rico and in the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing, China. One of the 25 PBA Greats, he has a record four MVP awards tucked under his belt as a pro.

28.  ROBERTO CALLELERO. A member of the Phl basketball team during the 1966 Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand.

29. LEONCIO 'JUN' TAN JR. A national team member during the 1984 Asian Games and Asian Basketball Championships, in the 1985 World Basketball Championships in Spain and in the 1985 Jones Cup in Taiwan.

30. COLEGIO DE SAN CARLOS (now USC). The first Cebuano team to win the National Inter-Collegiate Basketball Championships in 1946.

31. EFREN TABANAS. A decorated amateur boxer who collected gold medals in the 1980 ASEAN Cup, SEA Games (1981-83), King's Cup in Thailand, and 4th President Suharto Cup in Indonesia. He also bagged gold in the 7th ASEAN Boxing Championships in 1984, the same year he competed in the Los Angeles Olympics.

32. ESTANISLAO DEL CAMPO. A multi-titled boxer who was the Philippine flyweight champion in 1951. The following year, he ruled in the bantamweight division.

33. FRANKLIN CEDEÑO. A pro boxer who once reigned as the world flyweight champion.

34. CRISOLOGO 'BRIX' FLORES. A member of the national amateur boxing team that won gold in the SEA Games and bronze medal in the Asian Games.

35. DOMININO JAGDO. He made his mark as a trainer of boxing legend Gabriel Elorde and Efren Tabanas among others.

36. VIVENCIO 'BEN ALDEGUER' BIENE. He once held the crown as Phl flyweight champion.

37. LITA DE LA ROSA. A champion bowler during the 1979 FIQ World Championship in Manila and in the 1980 Malaysia Open. Also in 1980, she emerged as SWBC champion in Singapore. She also joined in the 1978 Bowling World Cup Championships in Bogota, Colombia.

38. GLICERIO BADILLES. He takes pride for being the first Cebuano national master in chess. He had stins in the 14th and 18th World Chess Olympiad in Moscow and Tel Aviv, respectively.

39. MATIAS 'BOMBI' AZNAR III. The Phl Team Captain during the 1974 World Chess Olympiad in Nice, France. A national master and officer once of the Private Schools Athletic Association.

40. MARCELO RUELAN. The 1959 Philippine Open Chess champion. He was an Asian record-holder for winning 18 games in 25 rounds with seven draws.

41. ROGER ABELLA. A member of the Phl chess team that played against the Chinese pawnpushers during the historic tri-city match played in China. A PRISAA standout, he was part of the national squad that won in the 1st Asian Chess Team Competition.

42. RODRIGO ABAQUITA. The 1960 Tour of Luzon champion.

43. JOSE MORING JR. The 1961 Tour of Luzon champion who was acknowledged as one of the speed demons in cycling during his time.

44. JOSE MORING SR. Acknowledged as the cycling acrobat of the Philippines.

45. CESAR FILOSOPO. A national cyclist who competed in the 5th Asian Cycling Championships in Singapore in 1971 and in the 1972 Montreal  Olympics.

46. PAULINO FILOSOPO, JR. A proud campaigner for the Phl Team in the 1st Philippine International Tour in 1975 and in the 8th Asian Cycling Championship in 1977.

47. JOSE DERESAS. Hailed as the youngest rider during the 1956 Tour of Luzon. A Visayan Cycling Circuit champion, he was crowned as Cebu's Track King in 1964-65. He also joined in the US Armed Forces Day Cycling Race

48. MARCELINO DELICA. A member of the national cycling team who won several local and national races during his prime.

49. EULOGIO 'YOLING' CAÑETE. The founder of Doce Pares, Inc.  He devoted all his life to the propagation and growth of the only known Filipino martial arts since he first learned the rudiments of stick-fighting in 1911.

50. CIRIACO 'CACOY' CAÑETE. An eskrima legend who topped the masters division during the National Open Arnis Championships in 1979.

51. JESUS CUI. A member of the national men's football team that once saw action in the Far East Games.

52. ANTONIO TRINIDAD. A member of the national football squad for four years from 1956-59. He also had stints with Manila Yellow Taxi Eleven and William Lines teams

53. ALFREDO DE JESUS. A delegate of the Phl soccer team in the Asian Games in Manila. He was a member of the USC Golden Booters, the first non-Manila team to win the National Open in 1950-51.

54. BEN ARDA. A champion parbuster in the Philippine Open Golf Championships in 1961 and 1963 and in the Asian Golf Circuit in 1969.

55. CELESTINO MANCAO TUGOT. A perennial Phl representative to several major golf tournaments abroad including in the Montreal (1954), Washington D.C. (1955), London (1956), Japan (1957), Mexico (1958), Puerto Rico (1961), Argentina (1963), Maui, Hawaii (1964) and in Madrid, Spain (1965).

56. LEONARDO ROA. A standout judoka who fought for the Phl team against China in 1962. Organizer and former president of the Southern Philippines Amateur Judo Association (SPAJA), he was responsible for propagating the sport in the Visayas region.

57. MARIO ALMARIO. He represented the country in sailing event during the 1991 SEA Games in Manila. He also donned the country's colors in three Olympiads in Munich, Montreal and Barcelona.

58. VIRGINIA DUMASIS. She was gold medalist during the 1st East-Asian YMCA Sports Camp in Hong Kong. She also amassed five golds in swimming event during the 1981 SEA Games in Manila.

59. MA. THERESA SAMSON. She made waves during the 5th Asian Age-Group International Swimming Meet in 1974 and in the Phil-Hong Kong YMCA Age-Group Swim Meet in 1978.

60. MA. LOURDES SAMSON. A member of the Phl team during the 5th Asia YMCA Games in Manila (1977) and in the SEA Age-Group Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (1979). She was also a SEA Games campaigner twice in 1981 in Manila and in 1983 in Singapore.

61. EMILIO RAFOLS. A member of the country's swimming contingent during the 1981 SEA Games in Manila. He was also a water polo player.

62. LOPE YNGAYO. A champion tennis player who saw action in the 1927 and 1930 Far East Games.

63. JOVITA KISEO. A decorated volleybelle who saw action in the Asian Games two times in 1958 in New Delhi and in Jakarta in 1962.

64. THE JAO TWINS - MA. LOURDES AND MA. CHONA. They both played in the 1980 Philippine-China Friendship Games held in four provinces in China (Canton, Beijing, Shanghai, and Nanjing). They also saw action in the 10th SEA Games in Jakarta, in the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi and in the 11th SEA Games in Singapore.

65. JOSEFINA MARANGA. A member of the Phl volleyball team that won gold in the 1979 and 1981 SEA Games in Jakarta and Manila. They also won silver during the 1983 SEA Games in Singapore.

66. THELMA BARINA. A national volleyball player during the 14th SEA Games in Jakarta. She was named both as best server and best spiker during the 1991 SEA Games.

67. ANTONIO YLAYA AND MA. LEOBETH YLAYA-ROJAS. Antonio won the championship in water ski slalom event during the 1981 Southeast Asian Water Ski Championships in Calinaya, Laguna. In that same competition, Ma. Leobeth bagged silver medal in water ski slalom for women.

68. ELPIDIO DOROTEO. A champion weightlifter who was adjudged Mr. Visayas in 1951 and eventually Mr. Philippines in 1952.

69. NARCISO ALINO JR. He was head of delegation to numerous international events being the chairman of the Philippine Weightlifting Association, Inc. He is also a gold medal awardee by the Asian Weightlifting Federation for his invaluable contribution to the sport of weightlifting in Asia.

70. CALIXTO PACQUIAO. He won silver medal in weightlifting event during the SEA Games in Thailand.

71. RAMON SOLIS. A former Olympian who also carved his own niche in weightlifting by topping competitions here and abroad.

72. DEAN AMANCIO ALCORDO. One of the pioneering sports leaders in Cebu. Co-founder of the Cebu Amateur Athletic Association, which is now the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. or the CESAFI.

73. MARIANO ALO. An all-around athlete during his younger years, he became an institution as organizer and pace-setter of different sports events. His patience and determination paved the way for Cebuano athletes to the national team.

74. EDUARDO 'SKIPPER' CABAHUG. A basketball acrobat and a renowned contortionist of the Philippine cagedom. He was co-captain when the University of the Visayas Green Lancers defeated NCAA champions Ateneo Blue Eagles, 74-63, to win the 2nd National Inter-Collegiate Basketball Championships at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila in 1957.

75. EDUARDO 'EDDIEGUL' R. GULLAS. The first Cebuano basketball tactician to win the "Coach of the Year" in 1957, the very same year he steered the UV Lancers to the National Inter-Collegiate title. They beat Ateneo in the final, 74-63, in the first ever televised game in Philippine basketball history.

76. ORLANDO C. SANCHEZ. A sports philantrophist and gifted sportswriter who once served as chairman of the Cebu Sports Hall of Fame. He was also one of the founding officers of the Sportswriters Association of Cebu.

78. ALEJO DE LOS REYES SR. Known as the first Filipino 'hook shot artist' in basketball.

79. ANTONIO L. ALDEGUER. Acknowledge as the 'Godfather of Cebu boxing" for his active involvement in the development of both amatuer and professional boxing. He is the chief architect of the highly-successful Pinoy Pride boxing series.

80. GRAEME MACKINNON. An Australian national with a Cebuano heart, he had tremendous contribution to Cebu football even up to the grassroots level.

81. MICHEL LHUILLIER. A highly esteemed businessman-sportsman who is a constant benefactor of Cebu football and basketball. He also once served as chairman of the Cebu City Sports Commission.

82. DAVID ODILAO JR. A Sportsman of the Year awardee by the Sportswriters Association of Cebu for his selfless efforts in propagating the sport of cycling in Cebu. The 'Father of Sinulog' has also organized several sporting events using funds from his own pocket.

83. WILLIAM CHIONGBIAN. He helped promote a football league in Cebu for over a decade from 1948 to 1960. He was the coach of USC that won the National Collegiate Championships in Manila in 1951. He was also chairman of the Philippine Football Athletic Federation in 1952 and member of the Phl delegation to the 14th World Olympics in Helsinki  and in 1961 Rome Olympics. He was also Phl representative to four World Cups (1966, London, (1970, Mexico), (1978, Argentina), and (1986,Mexico).

84. MARIA BELEN RUSIANA. A member of the Phl volleyball team that won gold during the 1979 Southeast Asian Games in Jakarta,Indonesia.

85. EUGENE DE LA CERNA. A volleyball coach and league organizer, Eugene de la Cerna molded players players that made it to the national team and produced numerous national titles for Cebu.

86. RENATO MIER. A member of the National Track Cycling Team that won several honors abroad including a bronze medal in the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi, India. He was also the former coach of the national mountain bike team.

87. FEDERICO YBAÑEZ. He represented Phl in the 1966 Bangkok Asian Games. Named as the best table tennis athlete for the decade (1961-1970) by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).

88. ERNE JAWAD. A member of the Phl team, he's was a well-loved table tennis player and coach. The annuel tournament, the Erne Jawad Memorial Cup, is named in his honor.

89. M LHUILLIER-CEBU FOOTBALL TEAM. A special honoree in the Cebu Sports Hall of Fame being the last Cebu team to win the National Inter-Club Championships in 1988.

90-91. THE PEÑALOSA BROTHERS GERRY AND DODIE BOY. They may not be homegrown talents, but Cebu definitely holds a special place in their hearts having grew up and honed their boxing skills here. The Queen City of the South was their launching pad to stardom until they became popular world champions not only in one, but in two weight divisions.

92. MALCOLM TUÑACAO. He made headlines after becoming a world boxing champion in only his 11th pro fight. He knocked out Thai Medgeon Singsurat to clinch the WBC flyweight belt in 1999.

93. JERRY CODIÑERA. One of the 25 PBA Greats and the former "Defense Minister" of the pro league.

94. JOSE R. GULLAS. A champion basketball player, coach and team manager who guided the University of the Visayas to three National Inter-Collegiate titles, he is also a devout tennis patron having founded the annual Gullas Cup. The longest existing developmental tennis tournament outside of Manila will mark its 20th anniversary celebration next year.

95. ANDY TABANAS. A champion boxer who held several national and regional titles. He reached the height of glory when he won the WBO minimum weight crown in the late '90s. (FREEMAN)