Tightwad in PBA blacklist

There’s a certain mayor from Bohol who’s earned a bad reputation for not keeping his promises to the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He owes the PBA close to P370,000 for promoting a game–that reportedly grossed over P1 Million–and just refuses to pay up. No, the Scrooge isn’t our good friend Tagbilaran Mayor Dan Neri Lim who’s a man of his word.

It’s not the first time that the PBA has given in to the mayor’s request for a game to be played in his town. In fact, the PBA has played three games in his backyard. The mayor paid what was due from him in the first game right away. But he took at least eight months to settle his accountability in the second.

Because of the experience in the second game, the PBA was hesitant to play another game in the mayor’s town. But the mayor begged for another chance.

A PBA official has sent several letters reminding the mayor to face up to his obligation. Texts have also been sent to his cellphone. Meetings were set to discuss a timetable for payment but the mayor never showed up despite confirming the appointments.

The PBA is at its wit’s end trying to get paid. But the mayor isn’t budging. He’s acknowledged his liability in black and white so there’s no denying he owes the league the exact amount of P368,700.

The mayor is giving his town and his respected family (he’s the son of a former senator) a bad name. Maybe, he’s just been too busy attending to his various responsibilities as mayor. Maybe, he’s just forgetful. Maybe, he doesn’t really mean to be a tightwad.

Let’s hope the mayor pays up soon. The PBA wants to put a closure to this case once and for all. You can be sure the PBA won’t play in his town again.

* * *

Southeast Asian (SEA) Games medalists and winners in the recent World Shoot XIV Ecuador are the honorees of the 2006 Defense and Sporting Arms Show that started yesterday at the Megatrade Hall of SM Megamall B, Ortigas Center, EDSA, Mandaluyong.

The exhibit is organized by the Association of Firearms and Ammunitions Dealers of the Philippines (AFAD) and managed by TradeShow International. It runs until Monday. One of AFAD’s key objectives is to educate the pubic in general that guns are not just used for self-preservation or as a standard equipment of law enforcement personnel. Sport shooting, trap shooting, skeet shooting, target shooting and hunting are activities involving firearms in which aficionados can indulge in as a hobby or as a serious sport.

Outstanding competitors in the World Shoot XIV are world champion (modified division) Jag Lejano, senior category champion (production division) Daniel Torrevillas, shoot-off champion (modified) Nelson Uycongco, fourth placer (revolver) Philip Chua and the modified team champion made up of Lejano, Uycongco, Lyndon Biraogo and Joseph Edward Sy.

The SEA campaigners in the honor roll are gold medalists Jun Angeles (practical shotgun), Paul Rosario (individual skeet shooting) and Patricio Bernardo, Darius Hizon and Rosario (team skeet shooting), silver medalists Dr. Ariel Santos (practical shotgun), Marty Llorito (practical pistol), Tac Padilla (rapid fire pistol) and the trap team composed of Jet Dionisio, Jaime Recio and Eric Ang and bronze medalists Ang (men’s individual trap) and Aimee Gana (women’s individual trap).

Shooting is a sport where Filipinos can excel if given proper training, incentives and financial support. It doesn’t require superior height or strength to make a shooting champion. In the last few years, Asian countries like China, Japan and Korea have exerted a lot of effort to mold their national shooting teams into major powerhouses in preparation for the coming Asian Games in Doha and the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

Postscript. Win as many as 12 paperbacks by joining Emerald Headway’s Holiday Book Blast promo. Aside from the complimentary back issue magazines you’ll get for every single receipt purchase of two paperbacks from any Emerald Bookazine outlet, you’ll also gain the chance to win as many as three, six or 12 paperbacks of your choice. For more details, call 647-4744. Emerald Headway is the leading distributor of books like The Year of Yes, Honeymoon, The Tipping Point and foreign magazines like Motor Trend, Cycle World, EZ Tech Guide, Maximum Addict, Elle D’cor, Home US and Hairdo.