Perez, hindi pinabayaan ang Warriors hanggang sa huling sandali

MANILA, Philippines - Hanggang sa kahuli-hulihang oras, walang nasa isip si Brenn Perez kundi ang kapakanan ng kanyang team.

Tulala pa rin si Coach Lawrence Chongson ng UE Warriors, sa biglaang pagkamatay ni Perez dahil noong Biyernes lamang ay siniguro pa nito na handa na ang bus na sasakyan ng Red Warriors para sa opening ng UAAP.

“It was around 7:30 p.m. when he texted one of our team officials to say that he had readied the bus for the team. Inasikaso pa niya ‘yun,” wika ni Chongson, na nasa unang taon pa lamang sa Warriors bilang head coach.

Ilang oras lamang ang nagdaan, ang sumunod na text ay naipasa na sa buong komunidad na UE at UAAP officials sa biglang pagkamatay ni Perez, na nagdiwang pa ng kanyang ika-51st kaarawan noong Huwebes sanhi ng atake sa puso.

“In the afternoon we were even texting about some tickets for the opening. We’re all shocked. When I got the text message saying he had died, I scrolled down waiting for the punch line,” ani Chongson.

Pero wala ang punchline.

“I thought it was a joke. Unfortunately it turned out to be true. Well, we have to dedicate this season to him. We can even use it as our battlecry - especially for the players,” dagdag ni Chongson.

Noong Huwebes, naghanda ng pep rally ang Warriors sa school compound at si Perez ang emcee. Dito inihayag ni team manager Jess Tanchangco na kaarawan ni Perez.

“So the band played the happy birthday song, and the students sang for him. He rose from his chair and kept saying, ‘Tama na (That’s enough).’ I knew he was happy that moment,” wika ng bagong UE mentor.

At iyon na ang huli nilang pagkikita. (Abac Cordero)