A day in Hong Kong

Now I know how it feels to be a jetsetter.

Last Thursday, I flew to Hong Kong on the Philippine Airlines 8:10 a.m. flight with Inquirer columnist Al Mendoza and sportsman Go Teng Kok for a meeting with FIBA (Federation Internationale de Basketball) president Dr. Carl Men Ky Ching. Later that same day, we were on the PAL 9 p.m. flight back to Manila.

What an unforgettable experience. I flew in and out of the former British Crown Colony in a day.

Al and I had never done that before. My daughter Cristina couldn’t believe it. Neither could I until I pinched myself in the arm after touching down late Thursday night.

The meeting with Ching was vital. Go, designated by the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) as project director of the campaign for the country to host the 2007 FIBA-Asia men’s championships, invited us to witness the meeting so we could see for ourselves the dynamics of the negotiations.

Go’s idea was to impress on Ching the seriousness of the Philippines’ bid. Because of their intimate friendship dating back to 1987, Go said he’s confident of persuading Ching to support the bid. In fact, Go has assured Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) commissioner Noli Eala that Manila will definitely host the 2007 FIBA-Asia tournament.

On the flight to Hong Kong, we bumped into Senator Jinggoy Estrada who was enroute to visit his father. Sen. Estrada said he would stay until Saturday (yesterday) to accompany the former President back home.

Of course, we asked Sen. Estrada about basketball, a sport he loves and plays. A blue baller’s ID was on his wrist.

Sen. Estrada said he’s been busy in the Senate and he hasn’t been able to watch too many PBA games on TV. But he knows several of his players from the San Juan Knights in the defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association are now in the PBA. He named Chris Calaguio and Kalani Ferreria of Shell, Omanzie Rodriguez of Red Bull, Chito Victolero of Sta. Lucia Realty and Rafi Reavis of Coca-Cola.

Sen. Estrada singled out Ferreria as a player who has learned his lessons from the past. As a San Juan cager, Ferreria was suspended for a month by Sen. Estrada–then San Juan Mayor and Knights team manager–because of his involvement in a bar brawl. "I don’t think Kalani ever spoke to me again after his suspension," said Sen. Estrada.

On the Memorandum of Agreement between the BAP and PBA, Sen. Estrada said it’s about time and should’ve been done long ago. "I congratulate leaders of both organizations for deciding to work together for the national interest."

Sen. Estrada cited Eala for doing a solid job at the pro league’s helm. "I know Noli," he said. "I know him to be a good lawyer. I hope to make time to watch games during the playoffs and cheer for Ginebra."

Sen. Estrada said he would’ve liked to head the Senate committee on sports but because he belongs to the minority party, the chairmanship was given to Sen. Lito Lapid. However, he promised to help the development of Philippine sports in whatever way he can.

In a show of support, Sen. Estrada is giving up his monthly salary of about P30,000 for the allowance of seven athletes. Since he assumed office last July, Sen. Estrada has donated his entire salary for Filipino athletes.

Sen. Estrada said he now hardly plays basketball because of a gimpy right knee which is due for another surgery. To keep in shape, he dabbles in badminton. He tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee playing basketball a few years ago.

Sen. Estrada said his father has become taller after surgery on both knees. "He was bowlegged before because his knees were so badly damaged and he couldn’t walk straight but after the operation, tumangkad siya," recounted Sen. Estrada. "When Dr. (Christopher) Mow cut open my father’s knees, fluid spurted out. That was how badly damaged his knees were. It was a case of osteoporosis and my father’s knees were bone to bone. Now there’s metal in his knees."

Sen. Estrada said he hopes Filipino sports officials will get their act together and expressed optimism with newly-elected Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco in control.

We were welcomed by an aide at the Hong Kong airport and driven by van to Ching’s office in the Wanchai district. BAP legal counsel Bonifacio Alentajan and BAP secretary-general Graham Lim, who left for Hong Kong the night before, met us for the appointment with Ching.

It was a cordial meeting in Ching’s office on the 26th floor of the Century Park Building on Hennessey Road in Wanchai, near Causeway Bay.

Ching showed us a framed memento of the Athens Olympics, given to him by Chinese sports officials with the autographs of each Chinese gold medalist. He recounted his long years of association with Filipino basketball leaders and players.

Ching took a dig at former BAP president Lito Puyat whom he called an ingrate. "Puyat would never have been elected FIBA president if not for my support," said Ching. "In 1972, he promised to donate the small amount of $500 to the ABC (Asian Basketball Confederation which FIBA-Asia used to known as). Up to now, he hasn’t paid up. In 1990, he asked me to advance the payment of the hotel bills of three Filipinos during the Beijing Asian Games. It was for 10 days. He never paid me back. Many times, he came to Hong Kong and asked me to book hotel accommodations then he never paid. But when I ran for FIBA president, he circulated a letter to FIBA officials spreading malicious lies about me."

More in Tuesday’s column.

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