Karangalan para sa Phil. Sports

MANILA, Philippines - Umukit ng kasaysayan si Chris Tiu bilang kauna-unahang basketbolistang napasama sa prestihiyosong TOYM (The Outstanding Young Men) list of awardees ng JCI Philippines.

Pasok ang Rain or Shine player sa 2013 TOYM ho-norees kasama sina Emerson Atanacio (social entrepreneurship), June Cheryl Cabal-Revilla (community service), Nicole Paula Curato (sociology), Custer Deocaris (science communication), Miguel Rene Dominguez (government, public service), Alonzo Gabriel (food science, technology) at Paolo Silva (medicine).

Bago ko isulat ang kolum na ito, sinubukan kong makahuntahan si Chris. Sagot niya sa text: “A little later. Just arriving in Malacañang. Medyo magulo.”

Sigurado naman na super proud moment ito sa dating Ateneo Eagle at dating Gilas Pilipinas player. Maging ang mga tao sa basketball circle ay proud kay Chris.

Sina PBA commissioner Chito Salud, Rain or Shine co-owner Raymond Yu at coach Yeng Guiao ang ilan sa nagbigay pugay sa magaling, mabait at responsableng manlalaro.

“Chris brings immense honor to the sporting community in general and the PBA in particular for having been given this award and recognition. Chris epitomizes the athlete role model for the youth that PBA would like to see each and every one of its players to embrace,” ani Salud.

“On behalf of the PBA family, I congratulate him for his tremendous achievement and thank him for the energy, commitment and passion this recognition will bring to his fellow PBA players as they all contribute their share to youth development,” dagdag pa ni “Kume.”

“We’re proud to have Chris as part of the Rain or Shine team. He is a good role model for kids and aspiring basketball players,” ani Yu.

“We are proud of him. He deserves the award because of a personal commitment to keep improving and make a difference to the people around him. Even if he comes from a privileged background, he remains humble and grounded. Our team is lucky to benefit from his company and leadership,” saad ni Guiao.

Masyadong masikip ang daan bago lumusot sa award na ito. Magmula nang simulan ang annual award na ito noong 1959, iilang sports personalities ang napasali dito. Una si world boxing champ Flash Elorde noong 1960 na sinundan nina tennis player Johnny Jose (1960), car driver Dodjie Laurel (1964), chess player Eugene Torre (1974), bowler Paeng Nepomuceno (1978), boxer Luisito Espinosa (1989), swimmer Eric Buhain (1991), sprint runner Lydia de Vega (1992), long jumper Elma Muros (1995), boxer Onyok Velasco (1996), golfer Dorothy Delasin (2001), boxer Manny Pacquiao (2004), mountain-climber Romy Garduce (2006) at booter Chieffy Caligdong (2012).

Napasama si Tiu sa listahan sa kategoryang youth leadership development. Personal kong nakita ang kanyang leadership bilang skipper ng original na Gilas Pilipinas team.

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Taglay na ang sobrang timbang nang muling tumuntong sa mid-court si Vergel Meneses sa kanyang formal retirement na iginawad ng Air21 sa halftime ng Air21-Barangay Ginebra game noong Miyerkules ng gabi.

Nagbigay pugay ang Air21 sa isa sa mga malaking pa-ngalan na nagsuot ng Air21 jersey. Humabi ng checkered pro career ang dating JRU King Bomber na ito at lumaro bilang Express bago lisanin ang PBA scene.

Kasama sa kanyang career highlights ang pagsungkit sa 1995 MVP award, pagkuha ng dalawang Mythical First Team citations, paglahok sa 11 All-Star Games at pag-ani ng record na apat na All-Star MVP awards.