I received quite a bit of email and text regarding my Monday column on Coach Johnny Candoy. Thanks for the kind words, folks, but really, I just told his story. If anything, it's the man. Yes, as much as I like writing about NU, it's not easy. I don't want to keep writing those sad stuff about them. But then again, not every one has a winning program. It wasn't too long ago that Ateneo was in the dumps as well.
The first NU game I watched outside a match versus Ateneo was in 1988 when they were playing La Salle at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum. Incredibly, they were holding off the Green Archers in that game. In the final minute of the game, the Bulldogs were up by four points and Coach Sonny Paguia called time. He issued instructions on taking care of the ball and making sure they got off a good shot every time. Then when they'd go back on defense, they were not supposed to give any open looks and to challenge every shot. I'm not sure if La Salle won it in regulation or in overtime, but they did as NU self-destructed. Tito Sonny was so angry at his team as he stamped and fumed. I still remember him shaking hands with Derek Pumaren and scratching his head. Hahaha.
Then there was that game against Ateneo in front of a literal handful of students and supporters. Jet Nieto had the ball and was posting up NU's center Cris Bolado. Nieto missed an up-and-under move that Bolado pulled down. Instead of flipping the ball over to his point guard, Bolado muscled Nieto out of the way and put the rock in... Ateneo's basket! What was even more surreal was that Nieto even tried to block Bolado. Everyone as in everyone was doubling over in laughter. The technical committee wasn't sure what to do. Bolado scratched his head and had this sheepish grin as Paguia took him out; not sure whether to kick him in the ass, cover his head with a towel, or what.
The following year, an Ateneo team minus many of its key players looked ripe for the taking and Paguia bribed his team with an eat-all-you-can meal if they beat Ateneo. They didn't and they never got to eat the Paguia's famous menudo that was their carinderia favorite. This was that infamous "Menudo Game." Remind me to tell you more about that if we meet up.
Hey, Tito Sonny! We love ya, 'kay?
Okay, it's bad enough that I admitted to going to this adult shop along 42nd Street and now I've dated myself as having watched these games when hardly anyone was watching. You could walk up to the ticket window during those days and purchase a ticket to any seat. Even during the championship years of 1987 & 88, it was only the games against La Salle and the championship ones where you had to worry about tickets but even so, I always made it. One time I got the whole Air Police flight (all 47 of us) to watch a game at Rizal! In full gear no less! Of course we couldn't bring in our nightsticks. And that was against UST. Hahaha. I rode with fellow Sports Shooter Philip Sison from ADMU to Rizal who was with me in the Air Police. Hahahaha.
Ah ye good old days of ye good old blue and white.
The first NU game I watched outside a match versus Ateneo was in 1988 when they were playing La Salle at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum. Incredibly, they were holding off the Green Archers in that game. In the final minute of the game, the Bulldogs were up by four points and Coach Sonny Paguia called time. He issued instructions on taking care of the ball and making sure they got off a good shot every time. Then when they'd go back on defense, they were not supposed to give any open looks and to challenge every shot. I'm not sure if La Salle won it in regulation or in overtime, but they did as NU self-destructed. Tito Sonny was so angry at his team as he stamped and fumed. I still remember him shaking hands with Derek Pumaren and scratching his head. Hahaha.
Then there was that game against Ateneo in front of a literal handful of students and supporters. Jet Nieto had the ball and was posting up NU's center Cris Bolado. Nieto missed an up-and-under move that Bolado pulled down. Instead of flipping the ball over to his point guard, Bolado muscled Nieto out of the way and put the rock in... Ateneo's basket! What was even more surreal was that Nieto even tried to block Bolado. Everyone as in everyone was doubling over in laughter. The technical committee wasn't sure what to do. Bolado scratched his head and had this sheepish grin as Paguia took him out; not sure whether to kick him in the ass, cover his head with a towel, or what.
The following year, an Ateneo team minus many of its key players looked ripe for the taking and Paguia bribed his team with an eat-all-you-can meal if they beat Ateneo. They didn't and they never got to eat the Paguia's famous menudo that was their carinderia favorite. This was that infamous "Menudo Game." Remind me to tell you more about that if we meet up.
Hey, Tito Sonny! We love ya, 'kay?
Okay, it's bad enough that I admitted to going to this adult shop along 42nd Street and now I've dated myself as having watched these games when hardly anyone was watching. You could walk up to the ticket window during those days and purchase a ticket to any seat. Even during the championship years of 1987 & 88, it was only the games against La Salle and the championship ones where you had to worry about tickets but even so, I always made it. One time I got the whole Air Police flight (all 47 of us) to watch a game at Rizal! In full gear no less! Of course we couldn't bring in our nightsticks. And that was against UST. Hahaha. I rode with fellow Sports Shooter Philip Sison from ADMU to Rizal who was with me in the Air Police. Hahahaha.
Ah ye good old days of ye good old blue and white.
No comments:
Post a Comment