Football in high gear

Drinking milk is important to your health, whether you’re young or old. And so is playing sports.

It’s no wonder at Alaska, whose motto is "good enough never is," drinking milk and playing sports are top priority. They go hand in hand.

In the US, America’s Dairy Farmers and Milk Processors went on a high-profile ad campaign using the "Got Milk?" tag and featuring sports celebrities with a thin milk line on their upper lips. Pat Riley, Pat Ewing, Joe Torre, Evander Holyfield and Mia Hamm were among the milk endorsers.

Ewing’s ad had this text: "Have you seen me sweat? I must lose 10 pounds a game. And from what I hear, it’s not just about losing water. It’s about nutrients. That’s why I drink milk. It’s got nine essential nutrients my body needs like calcium and potassium. I thought about telling the boys in Chicago but it’s about time they lost something."

Ewing referred to Michael Jordan and the Bulls who, when his ad came out, were lording it over the National Basketball Association.

That’s why Alaska CEO Fred Uytengsu, once a Philippine team swimmer in the Southeast Asian Games, isn’t just big on milk but also on sports. In case you didn’t know, he’s a serious triathlon and softball competitor.

Uytengsu is the man behind the Alaska Aces in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). Today happens to be special for him. In the morning, Alaska kicks off the second and final day of its eighth youth football festival at the Alabang Country Club fields. And tonight, the Aces battle Sta. Lucia Realty in Game 2 of their quarterfinal series in the PBA Reinforced Conference.

The football festival, the country’s biggest youth event in the sport, is organized by the Alabang Football School and sponsored by Alaska. It’s sanctioned by the National Capital Region Football Association and Philippine Football Federation.

Alaska sports development manager Joaqui Trillo says there’s nothing like starting ‘em young. "Alaska will always support youth sports development programs that instill discipline, winning habits and teamwork," adds Joaqui.

This year’s festival has assembled 180 teams from Metro Manila. Cebu, Subic, Quezon, Bukidnon, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal and others. Yesterday marked the start and finish of competitions in six categories–ladies open, boys 17, boys 13, girls 15, players 7 and players 9. Today, the games start at 8:30 a.m. in six more categories–men’s open, girls 17, boys 15, girls 13, players 11 and players 5. Matches will be played simultaneously on 18 turfs.

The much-awaited tournament in the six-and-under division begins at 1 p.m. today. Six teams made up of boys and girls from three to six years old will vie for their own championship. You can just imagine parents watching from the sidelines, ready to rush in to wipe the sweat of their kids’ eyebrows or to offer a swig of milk.

The men’s open is split into four groups. In the mix are Kaya FC, Los Borrachos, Quezon FA, Brent Mamplasan, Onze FC (2)/Athletico, Passagard FC, Lateo FC, Onze FC/Archers, Makiling United, Laos B, Nomads FC, Aguila FC 1, Xavier Seniors FC, Crispa FC, Union FC, Sunday FC, Manila All Japan FC, Aguila FC 2, Laos A, Spain FC and Alabang Nite FC.

If you missed the first day festivities yesterday, don’t miss today’s action. Joaqui promises a whole day of fun, excitement and fellowship.

The acting tournament director is Elvira Lozano with Hans Smit as tournament director, Inaki Vicente as commissioner and Tomas Saluria as head of referees.

Awarding ceremonies start at 4 p.m. After handing out the trophies, Joaqui will rush to the Big Dome to sit on the Aces bench in their do-or-die duel with the Realtors.

Will Ali Peek play? Joaqui says the burly center is day-to-day, meaning coach Tim Cone will decide whether or not to suit him up just before the start of the game. Peek has sat out the last six games of which Alaska lost four.

In Game 1 last Wednesday, the Realtors pulled away in the last two minutes to carve out a tough 88-79 decision. With Peek sitting on the bench, Sta. Lucia’s twin towers–Marlou Aquino and Dennis Espino–were hardly challenged. The Skyscraper and Dennis the Menace combined for 43 points.

There’s more to the series than just avoiding an early Christmas vacation. It’s turned out to be a personal thing. Kenneth Duremdes was shipped by Alaska to Sta. Lucia in the offseason and would like nothing better than to stick it to the Aces for trading him away. That’s not all. Alaska import Isaac Fontaine used to play for Sta. Lucia and he, too, has an axe to grind because the Realtors never brought him back after a brief stint in the 2000 Governors Cup.

Another Alaska loss will mean curtains for the Aces’ season while a win will extend the tie to a winner-take-all showdown on Friday. A Sta. Lucia victory will advance coach Alfrancis Chua’s charges to the semifinals against the survivor of the San Miguel Beer-FedEx series.