Record entries in NBA contest - SPORTING CHANCE by Joaquin M. Henson

This one’s for you.

A total of 6,457 entries flooded The STAR office lobby as readers responded in a big way to the fourth and last National Basketball Association (NBA) Game of the Week contest before the playoffs.

The previous three contests averaged 2,000 entries.

Three questions on the San Antonio-Minnesota game shown on IBC-13 last March 15 had to be answered correctly for an entry to qualify in the draw. Who scored the first basket, what was the halftime score, and who was the top scorer?

Terrell Brandon hit the icebreaker. The count was tied, 47-all, at the turn. And Derek Anderson tallied 30 points to lead all scorers.

Here are the winners and their prizes:

First prize: Rio Ronan Santos of 195 Fajardo St., Canalate, Malolos, Bulacan. A Los Angeles Lakers hooded jacket, a Toronto Raptors sweatshirt, a Lakers 2000 championship VHS video, a Tower Sports NBA magazine, a Kobe Bryant poster, an Upper Deck 2001 calendar, a Karl Malone poster, and two NBA schedule booklets.

Second prize: Jess Carpena of 658 Tatlong Hari St., Sta. Rosa, Laguna. A Lakers sweatshirt, a Raptors long-sleeved shirt, a Golden State Warriors media guidebook, a Tower Sports NBA magazine, a Kevin Garnett poster, a Chicago Bulls 2001 calendar from Upper Deck, a Malone poster, and two NBA schedule booklets.

Five consolation prizes of an NBA cap, a Bryant poster, a Malone poster and a Michael Jordan poster each: Pat Limcauco, Jr. of 603 Aramis St., Villa Amor Subdivision, Batasan Hills, Quezon City; Bernie Bautista of 1051 Dagupan St., Tondo; Engineer Randy Damot of Lot 40, Road 19, Cogeo Village, Antipolo; Lucito Imperial of Cuenca Fire Station, Cuenca, Batangas; and Bobby Fernandez of 5 Moscow St., Ciudad Grande Executive Village, Ortigas Ave., Rosario, Pasig City.

Five consolation prizes of an NBA "I Still Love This Game" CD, a Malone poster, and a Garnett poster: Julius Cesar Buquiron of San Luis, Nabua, Camarines Sur; Ramon Tentativa, Jr. of 33-B Quezon St., Iloilo City; William Dulcero of 12 Calle Plata, BC Homes Subdivision, Salinas Drive Ext., Cebu City; Edgar Cabading of the Rural Health Unit, Badoc, Ilocos Norte; and Jose Pioquinto of Philex Mining Corp., Padcal, Tuba, Benguet.

Congratulations to the 12 lucky winners. You may pick up your prizes from Babes at Tel. 527-6007 starting this Tuesday.

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Dr. Antonio Sison of 7 Salvi St., Tierra Pura Homes, Quezon City, pointed out an omission in the list of Filipino world boxing champions published in this column recently.

Here are excerpts of his letter:

"I enjoy reading your column because you write about sports aside from basketball. In your Sporting Chance dated last March 21, you overlooked Erbito Salavarria who should bring to 35 the total number of Filipino world boxing champions to date.

"I used to be a fanatic young boy who followed basketball very closely from the London Olympics in 1948 until I lost interest 25 years later when I finally realized that we can never win prestigious international tournaments anymore. Worse, I feel there is so much talent wasted which the Filipinos can develop and excel to become a world class athlete if he played another sport.

"Please continue to write about the golden era of other Philippine sports once in a while to inspire and motivate the young Filipino athlete to become competitive internationally and bring glory to the country."

Actually, Dr. Sison, I missed out on two Filipino world boxing champions — Salavarria and Bernabe Villacampo, both flyweights.

Here’s the complete and unabridged list of Filipino world titlists — Pancho Villa (1923-25), Small Montana (1935-37), Little Dado (1938-39), Ceferino Garcia (1939-40), Gabriel Elorde (1960-67), Roberto Cruz (1963), Pedro Adigue (1968-70), Rene Barrientos (1969-70), Bernabe Villacampo (1969-70), Erbito Salavarria (1970-73, 1975-76), Ben Villaflor (1972-73, 1973-76), Rolando Navarrete (1981-82), Frank Cedeno (1983-84), Bobby Berna (1983-84), Dodie Boy Peñalosa (1983-85, 1987), Rolando Bohol (1988-89), Tacy Macalos (1988-89), Eric Chavez (1989-90), Luisito Espinosa (1989-91, 1995-99), Jesus Salud (1989-90), Rolando Pascua (1990-91), Manny Melchor (1992), Morris East (1992-93), Ronnie Magramo (1994-95, 1995-96), Amado Cabato (1994-95), William Magahin (1995), Rico Siodora (1996-98), Gerry Peñalosa (1997-98), Rolando Toyogon (1997, 1998), Eric Jamili (1997-98), Miguel Arrozal (1998), Manny Pacquiao (1998-99), Orlando Villaflor (2000), Joselito Rivera (2000), Malcolm Tuñacao (2000-01), and Joma Gamboa (2000).

The list adds up to 36 former Filipino world boxing champions. Excluded were two Hawaiian fighters who trace their roots to the Philippines — Dado Marino and Ganigan, born US citizens.

Postscript. Lawyer Eric Abalajon of McKinley St., Roxas City, sent in a letter expressing his undying loyalty to Tanduay. Eric, you may write the Tanduay team at 348 J. Nepomuceno St., Quiapo, Metro Manila . . . Nelsen Vilches of barangay Oyungan, Miag-ao, Iloilo, said he hopes his favorite team, Purefoods, relives its glory years this season. He’s been a Hot Dogs diehard since Purefoods entered the PBA in 1998 . . . Mark Tan of 19 St. Rita St., Provident Village, Marikina, wrote to denounce politics in sports . . . Emerito Co of Rizal St., Poblacion Magsaysay, Occidental Mindoro, asked where to buy a copy of Oscar de la Hoya’s book. Check Power Books or National Bookstore . . . Plutarco (Cocoy) Velez of 20 Everlasting St., Carmen, Cagayan de Oro, observed that Manny Pacquiao should improve his defense. "Pacquiao lacks the fighting style of Gerry Peñalosa," noted Cocoy, a pro boxing judge. "He is more dependent on the power of his hands – brute force. He will have trouble if he meets a stronger opponent with good footwork."