Sports Academy graduates first batch

The pioneering batch of 41 national athletes and coaches completed the inaugural training program at the newly established De La Salle University-Philippine Sports Commission Academy recently. The graduates came from the national teams of athletics, boxing, judo, pencak silat, rowing, soft tennis, baseball and wrestling. They finished a short course – English Grammar with Basic Conversation, the first of several subjects offered by the academy for free. The academy was founded to provide national athletes the opportunity to enrich themselves and prepare for a life beyond sports through an academic non-curricular program. 

Attending the graduation rites were PSC commissioners Chito Loyzaga and Akiko Thomson, De La Salle vice chancellor for Lasallian Mission and Alumni Relations Br. Bernie Oca and De La Salle vice chancellor for academics and research Dr. Myrna Austria.

The graduating class was composed of 12 coaches and 29 athletes. Boxing had the largest contingent with 12, listing coaches Pat Gaspi, Roel Velasco, Sonny Dollente, Ronald Chavez and Boy Velasco and fighters Charly Suarez, Ian Clark Bautista, Bonifacio Fernando, Romeo Brin, Dennis Galvan, Gerson Nietes and Analiza Cruz. Rowing brought in 10. Athletics, wrestling and pencak silat had four each while judo and soft tennis, three apiece. Baseball had a single graduate Junnifer Pinero.

 Representing athletics were Roselyn Hamero, Joebert Delicano, Sean Guevarra and Joseph Sy. Wrestling checked in with Greggy Handog, Robertson Torres, Excel Tubog and Romulo Jose Terio. Pencak silat had Christopher Yabut, Ronald Perena, Emmar Progelia and Ishmael Abdulnaseef. Judo brought in Nancy Quillotes, Dionisio Lucero and Helen Dawa. Samuel Noguit, Noelle Zoleta and Jhomar Arcilla came from soft tennis. Rowing listed Darwin Alicum, Ritchmon Rodriguez, Jojie Maerina, Alvin Amposta, Benjie Tolentino, Jr., Kervin Valle, Edgardo Maerina, Sr., Roque Abala, Edgar Ilas and Nicanor Jasmin.

The class was split into two batches. The first group took the course from March 7-25 for two hours in the morning while the second attended from March 21-April 8 for two hours in the afternoon. The classes were held at the Bro. Andrew Gonzalez Hall at the De La Salle University Center for Language and Lifelong Learning on Taft Avenue. 

The partnership between the PSC and La Salle is anchored on a common vision of accommodating the educational and entrepreneurial skills of eligible national athletes and coaches. The institutions signed a memorandum of agreement last year to cement a relationship built on the recognition of sports as an integral element of society. The agreement included a provision where La Salle committed to undertake the rehabilitation of the football field at its expense. The newly refurbished pitch was unveiled during the Philippines-Sri Lanka football match last Sunday and drew raves from the players, coaches, fans, sports officials and media.

Br. Bernie, last year’s UAAP president, distributed the certificates of completion to the graduates at the commencement program with Loyzaga delivering an inspirational message and Suarez giving a response to thank the PSC and La Salle in behalf of the graduates.

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Fil-Spanish striker Angel Guirado has cancelled his scheduled trip back to Spain today and decided to stay in Manila until the Philippine national football team leaves for training camp in Bahrain next week to prepare for the second round World Cup qualifying series against Kuwait.

Guirado’s original plan was to fly to Spain today and return with his girlfriend Rocio on Monday. But after meeting with German coach Michael Weiss last Wednesday, he decided to stay and undergo therapy starting tomorrow at the Alabang Country Club with team doctor Randy Molo. His Spanish girlfriend is no longer coming.

Guirado’s aunt Gloria Garcia convinced him to forgo returning to Spain not only because of the expense but also to concentrate on his football career. “Rocio cried and Angel also cried in front of coach Weiss,” said Garcia whose son Rafa acts as Guirado’s interpreter and manager. “I also spoke with Rocio on the phone. Then, I brought Angel to a separate room and we talked one-on-one. I advised him to focus on his career and his commitment to the Azkals.”

Garcia said Weiss’ faith in Guirado was a big reason for his decision to stay. “Coach Weiss wants Angel to be 100 percent physically fit,” she said. “He will do intensive therapy for a week. Coach Weiss confessed to me that the first time he saw Angel, he knew right away he would play a big role with the Azkals.”

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After losing several endorsement contracts in the wake of his philandering, golfer Tiger Woods is slowly working his way back into the commercial mainstream. Two years ago, he was dumped by Gillette, AT&T and Accenture in a major slap on the face of arguably the world’s richest athlete whose career has reportedly generated an income of over $1 Billion.

Woods, 35, took a 20-week leave of absence from golf to settle his private problems with Norwegian wife Elin Nordegren but the marriage eventually ended up in divorce. His wife agreed to a $100 Million parting of ways. They have two children Sam, 4, and Charlie, 2. Woods’ infidelity has caused major disappointment among his sponsors and no doubt, it has affected his game. Once the world’s No. 1 player, Woods hasn’t won a championship in two years and his ranking has dropped to No. 17. Early this year, he was shown on TV spitting on the ground after missing a putt on the 12th green of a tournament in Dubai. Clearly, Woods is shaken up. 

Still, there are companies that remain loyal to Woods despite his behavior and bad publicity. At the height of his popularity, Woods was untouchable as a pitchman. He endorsed video games, an SUV, a watch, a major international credit card, a food line and nearly every marketable product on the shelf. 

No matter what happens the rest of his career, Woods will go down in history as one of the game’s greatest stars. He has won 14 major championships, second only to Jack Nicklaus’ 18, and 71 PGA tour events behind only Sam Snead and Nicklaus.  

Last week, Japanese pain-relief brand Vantelin Kowa inked the golfer to his first endorsement contract since the sex scandal.   How appropriate that Woods now endorses pain relief because that’s exactly what he needs right now. He’s hurting physically and morally. Simon Houpt, writing in The Globe and Mail of Canada, described Woods as a “famously wayward athlete… in the midst of an unstoppable personal and professional swan dive.”