Taking the lead

It was Vic Eugenio of Universal Sports on the telephone line the other day and he just came from visiting the newly-constructed 5,000-seat Capiz gymnasium at the Villareal Sports Center in Roxas City.

Eugenio excitedly reported on his latest baby. He was ecstatic and had reason to be.

The Capiz gymnasium is the latest showcase of the National Basketball Association-certified Robbins maplewood flooring and Porter hydraulic portable hoop system that his company distributes locally.

Only three other facilities in the country are equipped with the hydraulic system used at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and the United Center in Chicago. They are the PhilSports Arena, Ynares Center and the General Santos City gymnasium.

Eugenio said it took a year to negotiate the deal with Capiz Gov. Vicente Bermejo who only wanted the best for his province.

"How I linked up with Gov. Bermejo is a long story," said Eugenio. "Pat Valenzuela, an insurance executive from Roxas City, got in touch with Jojo Claudio of Toby’s to find out about basketball systems. Jojo then referred Pat to me. I was later introduced to Gov. Bermejo."

Shipping the maplewood flooring from the Robbins factory in Cincinnati took about 60 days and installing it took another 16 days. Eugenio brought in the Porter goals and the two Fair Play Trans-Lux one-sided electronic scoreboards to complete the package. All the equipment was declared ready for use last week.

"We’re very excited about this project," said Eugenio. "Robbins’ international manager Jairo Vargas even flew in from Cincinnati some months ago to inspect the progress of the construction of the gym. He wanted to assure Gov. Bermejo of Robbins’ commitment to provide only world-class flooring, the kind that is used in the NBA."

Eugenio said the Capiz gymnasium is not yet air-conditioned although the player lockerrooms are.

"That will be for the next phase, to air-condition the building," continued Eugenio. "They will also bring in permanent seats later. We hope to supply the seats, too, and the rubberized turf for their track and field oval."

Yesterday, the Capiz gymnasium was officially inaugurated as Roxas City hosted its first-ever PBA game between Sta. Lucia Realty and Shell.

Eugenio formed Universal Sports in 1991. The company distributes Porter, Robbins, Nordic, Fair Play, Playworld, Martin and Colorado products. It is the country’s leading supplier of first-class sports equipment. Stadiums equipped by Universal Sports include the Araneta Coliseum, Makati Coliseum, Centrol Escolar University in Bulacan, Lyceum, San Sebastian College, Far Eastern University, Cantada Sports Center, San Juan de Dios College and Brent Schools in Mamplasan and Baguio.

* * *

Don’t look now but Avia is slowly coming on strong as a major player in the sports footwear industry.

Greal Gandionco of Avia Marketing recently e-mailed a list of the brand’s athletic endorsers and said the shoe is ready to take the lead in the increasingly crowded race to the top.

Heading the list of Avia achievers is Ralph Waldy Soguilon, La Salle’s No. 1 bet in track and field. The General Santos City speedster recently broke the 20-year-old Philippine sprint record of Isidro del Prado in the 200-meter dash with a time of 21.3 seconds. Del Prado held the previous mark of 21.44.

"Ralph is one of the top flag-bearers and gold medal hopefuls in the coming Southeast Asian Games in Manila late this year," said Gandionco. "He now sports Avia’s top running shoe, the ECS-Atlas, equipped with the Ecto-Cantilever System, our newest shoe technology."

Gandionco explained that the ECS heel is a completely new, mechanically advanced technology designed to reduce the shock that is felt upon impact and return the energy into the next step.

Another Avia track achiever is Henry Dagmil, the country’s long jump king. The Mapua Cardinal holds both the NCAA and national records in the long jump. Like Soguilon, Dagmil wears the Avia ECS-Atlas.

Gandionco said the Cantilever technology is also found in Avia’s retro basketball line. Among Avia’s authentic retro hoop shoe advocates are 2005 PBL MVP Jondan Salvador of Montaña Pawnshop, University of the East star Nino (K. G.) Canaleta, University of the Philippines cager Nestor David, Alaska guard Rob Johnson, Purefoods forward Richard Yee, Shell guard Chris Calaguio and Talk n Text center Yancy de Ocampo.

Sta. Lucia’s Kenneth Duremdes wore Avia shoes in the Realtors win over Purefoods at the Big Dome the other day. Duremdes was voted the game’s Best Player.

"The endorsers are witness to the feel of original retro basketball shoes with technology, shoes that were once preferred by NBA greats Clyde Drexler, John Stockton and Scottie Pippen," said Gandionco. "They also point out that the Cantilever technology and the cushioning of the Avia basketball shoes add to the comfort and the stability of the product."

Gandionco said another hot Avia item is its badminton and squash Multi-Court performance shoe equipped with mid-foot air vents and shank support.

"Its outsole is a mix of molded EVA and gym providing more traction between the shoes and the court," noted Gandionco. "Its Cantilever and cushioning technologies help control and absorb the impact from a jump or a sudden stop for a volley or a drop shot return. The full-leather uppers provide protection and support for the foot on lateral movements."

With the shoe war escalating, the consumer couldn’t be happier. The end-buyer has the luxury of choosing the best in the market to suit his or her sport, feet and body weight.

Postscript. The Alumni Association of the Pamantasan Ng Lungsod Ng Muntinlupa, formerly Muntinlupa Polytechnic College, will hold its first Grand Alumni Assembly and search for the Most Outstanding Alumni of 2005 on May 14, 6 p.m., at the PLMun quadrangle. For details, contact Frederick Wong (0920-2717040), Julius de la Cruz (0927-5000344), Bong Jimenez (0922-8600006) or Ivory Lanzar-Santos (0921-3612268). Leilanie Ty, Joel Mabilin, Niel Peter Yu and Nestor Loremia of the PLMun Accounting Office (tel. 560-1489) and Maricel Labra-Dacuycoy of the Early Education Center in the People Center Building of the Muntinlupa City Hall (tel. 861-9937) are also available to provide details of the project. Inquiries may be sent by e-mail to [email protected].