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There is the repeated report that when San Beda and
Letran clashed for the NCAA title in 1950, Caloy Loyzaga was with
the Red Lions. Not true. Olympians Pons Saldaña, Eddie Lim and
Piling Barretto led the pride, followed by the three Cunas, Caseres,
Kabayo Buenaflor, Olong Ocson, Bulag (Chua was a one-eyed
sharpshooter!), L. Martir, Dante Santos and Alex Trajano.
Caloy led the Lions in roaring
mightily in 1951 and 1952 but the Eagles flew high in 1953 and 1954.
However, the Lions came back in 1955 and retired the Zamora trophy
permanently.
I was a Bedan pre-law freshman in
1955 when the games would be held in Rizal and Loyola.
Rabat, Ballesteros and Literal
led the southern contingent in their winning years while Carbonnel
and Bangoy helped Caloy in 1955. Save for Caloy, who hailed from
Mindoro, the five were from the South.
Nothing has matched that
championship intensity since, in my view, partly because it was the
only game in town then. But, no name is mentioned today with the
same easy recall as Caloy. From the time I was born, save 1950, when
the Lions were deep-sixed by Murder, Inc., this year is the only
time when Mendiola again battles Muralla for whole enchilada.
The need is for sobriety, the
type that could have prevented the NCAA breakaway on the part of
Ateneo and La Salle, had it prevailed. The frat scandals may have
begun at the time. I recall Fr. Delaney speaking in Rizal High on
the subject not too many years before that.
Still, I hope that someone like
Manny V. Pangilinan may yet sponsor a special tournament featuring
the post-World War II origs, Ateneo, Jose Rizal, La Salle, Letran,
Mapua and San Beda, the way it used to be when I was young.
I understand the songs, cheers
and dances may have changed (“cheerdance” seems to be the term
now) and I do not necessarily like all the changes.
I feel awkward every time the
losing team is made to sing its college song. What I recall was that
the losers in the past simply went to their dugout or locker room
instead of having their agony prolonged in public.
I have no idea who thought of the
innovation but I am unable to find any justification for it. Ang
natalo po sa NC noon parang namatayan and the campus mourned for
days. You might as well ask a death convict to sing before he goes
to the Promised Land. When you laugh, the world laughs with you but
you weep alone (some people become stronger in prison).
When I go today to watch the
title series between two storied competitors, I can only say a
little prayer for my beloved compadre, Herminio Astorga, who I got
to know through another esteemed compadre, Art Panganiban. Always
within easy recall was what Togay became the cover boy of the Sunday
Times magazine, in that familiar pose with ball in his right hand,
along with his right knee raised, poised to take a shot. Later,
Togay and Art, both from humble origins, would be our senior
stalwarts in the Student Catholic.
Action, a truly prestigious group
which shaped us at the time. I lament the virtual disappearance of
SCA, along with the Archdiocesan Athletic League (AAL). Everything
is so secular these days, with the spiritual values of old gone.
An American general sighs that it
is impossible for America to win in Iraq when everyone is in the
mall. That culture is creeping in here and I, too, lament it.
But, shhhh, with all my burdens
and responsibilities, may I be excused for the duration of the San
Beda-Letran series?
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