CHICAGO – It was about 2 a.m. here in Chicago (3 p.m. yesterday in Cebu) when I reluctantly woke up. Peeling myself from the cushy bedsheets, I stormed to the shower, got dressed and headed to O’Hare International Airport, where US Airways Flight No.8353 was waiting to fly me to Burbank, California.
For the next couple of days, my daily NBA column takes a backseat as I travel to Los Angeles and cover Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista’s debut as a Golden Boy fighter this Sunday at Staples Center.
I’ve been looking forward to this trip, another small step in the long journey of chronicling what I perceive to be a long and fruitful career of one of the finest Pinoy pugs ever to trade mitts in the world stage.
As soon as I hit Burbank at 8:48 a.m. Friday (10:48 p.m. last night in Cebu), a rented car awaits me and I will whisk myself to downtown LA, at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel where Manny Pacquiao will hold a luncheon press conference to promote his upcoming pay-per-view battle with Oscar Larios on July 2 in Manila.
From there, I will navigate the short ride from downtown LA to the Wild Card Gym at Vine St. Up next would be the Staples Center, presumably the venue of Bautista’s official weigh-in.
Of course, none of all these would have been possible without the help of Fil “Boy” Mercado, a quality assurance engineer for the city of Phoenix’s massive transportation system.
Mercado, whose family in Cebu runs and operates the Emerson taxi fleet, is a huge boxing fan. I met him last at the Sycuan Resort and Casino in San Diego where he made a long drive from Arizona just to be morbidly fascinated by the sight of watching Boom Boom maul someone in the ring.
Fil found out that my upcoming trip to cover Bautista was in danger of falling through because someone irresponsibly backed out of a promised round-trip ticket to LA. He immediately stepped in and bought me a ticket on less than 24 hours’ notice. The fare was about $666, and though I will refund him dollar for dollar, his quick purchase via the Internet guaranteed my presence in LA today instead of tomorrow.
Fil wasn’t the only one eager to jump to my aide. Cebu City Councilor Jack Jakosalem, who has family in LA, rang me up on my cellphone and anxiously offered to help. I had to decline Jack. Sun.Star Cebu has a policy of not accepting any form of sponsorship or assistance from elected officials, no matter how innocent.
But Jack’s gesture is most certainly appreciated. And to engineer Fil, you have my deepest gratitude.
The person I alluded to in my column is not of Aldeguer Team, after all. Mr. Antonio Aldeguer sent me a text message to explain. He said the promise-breaker is a friend and his ALA Boys are renting his apartment and helps drive them to the gym.
Mr. Aldeguer wrote: “Your mentioning of him as part of Team Aldeguer may be misundestood by some quaters. I already got some negative reactions. I was never aware of your arrangement with him because I never talk with him even for a second.”
To put on record, unlike the NBA Finals where I solicit to help cushion the financial blow, I did not for my coverage of the Bautista fight.
GAME 7. Meanwhile, the LA Clippers beat the hell out of the Suns yesterday, winning Game 6 by a mile ((118-106) and setting the stage for a Game 7 on Monday at the US Airways Center in Phoenix.
As expected, the Clippers pounced on the Suns by imposing their size, winning the rebounding battle 48-28. LA’s defense also held Phoenix to just 38-of-87 from the field or a paltry 43.7 percent.
All-Star Elton Brand led the Clips with 30 points and 12 rebounds. He shot 14-of-21 field goals and dished three assists. Sam Cassell had a quiet 15 for the Clips, but Corey Maggette was loud off the bench with 25. Chris Kaman added 15 points and 10 rebounds.
The Suns got 34 from Shawn Marion, but after closing the gap at 32-31 in the opening quarter, they weren’t really into this one as the Clips just kept on holding them off. MVP Steve Nash, showing some fatigue from heavy playing time, tallied 17 on a mere 6-of-16 shooting. Nash did have 11 assists against one turnover.
Game 7? Logic says the Clips, who are bigger and stronger. But logic sometimes goes out of the window in a pressure-packed Game 7. So, I’m taking the Suns and homecourt advantage this time.
