The unexpected roommate

A funny story that the late Chino Trinidad once told was about his father Recah, a respected sportswriter and columnist now retired at 81. It was during the 1972 Olympics where the Philippines was represented by 53 athletes in 11 sports. No Philippine delegation was ever bigger in 23 participations, including the coming Paris Games.

“Two of our basketball players smuggled Papa into the Athletes Village,” chuckled Chino. “Dahil wala siyang budget pang-hotel pinuslit nila Danny Florencio at Yoyong Martires sa kwarto sa Athletes Village. Pinahiram ng tracksuit ni Yoyong para mag-mukhang athlete. May hangover one morning at pinasabay nila sa track. Mahigpit si (strength and conditioning coach) Juan Cutillas. Pinatakbo pati si Papa. Ayun, sinuka lahat ng nainom niya the night before.”

The Philippine basketball team in the 1972 Munich Olympics was the last to play in the Summer Games. Martires, who passed away last month at 77, had vivid memories of Munich. In a conversation during the EASL Final Four in Cebu last March, he said the team was asked to leave Munich and return home midway the competitions due to the terrorist attack at the Olympic Village. The dawn attack led to the death of five Israeli athletes and six Israeli coaches. Martires recalled he never heard the gunshots because the assault was in a dorm that was distant from where the Filipino athletes stayed. The first sign that something was wrong came in the form of the buzz of helicopters, noted Martires who added that the athletes agreed to finish the Games.

The 1972 basketball team was made up of Martires, Ed Ocampo, Tembong Melencio, Jimmy Mariano, Florencio, Ciso Bernardo, Marte Samson, Jun Papa, Bogs Adornado, Manny Paner, Freddie Webb and Joy Cleofas. Coach was Ning Ramos. The Philippines placed 13th of 16 with a 3-6 record, beating Senegal, 68-62, Egypt by default and Japan, 82-73 and losing to Poland, 90-75, Puerto Rico, 92-72, Germany, 93-74, Yugoslavia, 117-76, Soviet Union, 111-80 and Italy, 101-81.

At Chino’s wake in Sanctuarium last Monday, Recah and his wife Fe received visitors with Chino’s wife Babette and their daughters Florian and Floresse. Son Florenz, an English teacher in a Japanese university, is expected to fly in on Friday before the cremation the next day. Recah was shocked and distraught but his strong faith in the Lord has calmed him into understanding that this was God’s will and Chino is now safely in His hands. There was a Mass that first night of the wake and Fr. Francis Gustilo, who officiated in the wedding rites of Chino and Babette 34 years ago, spoke about the late sports broadcaster’s passion, mission, patriotism and advocacy. Fr. Gustilo is the head of the Institute of Spirituality of Salesian Studies and an exponent of the “transformative power of faith in action, embodying the timeless values of compassion, service and environmental stewardship.” Among the visitors were Dr. George and Dr. Glennda Canlas, Lelen Berberabe and daughter Jamie Lim with Johannes Bernabe, Pat Aquino, Freddie Jalasco, Vince and Patricia Hizon, Hazel Ancheta, Tito Talao, Rey Lachica, Roy Luarca, Chito de la Vega, Dennis Principe and Kristina Maralit. The wake will continue at Sanctuarium from 10 a.m. to 12 midnight today, tomorrow and Friday until the cremation on Saturday.