By Al S. Mendoza
TEARS of joy marked the enshrinement of seven athletes to the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame last weekend at the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) hosted by PSC Chairman Pato Gregorio, resplendently clad in a crisp Barong Tagalog just like Sen. Bong Go, the guest of honor.
Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco shed the most tears while recalling his boyhood days in his extemporaneous speech, saying he became a boxer to escape hunger and poverty in his native Bago City, Negros Occidental.
“I am the youngest in a brood of nine (7 boys and 2 girls),” he said in Filipino. “Without boxing, I wouldn’t be where I am now.”
He won a boxing silver in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, earning him a much-coveted Hall of Fame award like Bea Lucero (gymnastics and taekwondo), Adeline Dumapong (paralympian power lifter), Isidro del Prado (400-meter marvel), Cecile Mamiit (tennis), Eddie Pacheco (posthumous in football/basketball) and Ramon Fernandez (basketball).
Dubbed the “Magnificent Seven” by Gregorio in the glittering awards emceed brilliantly by Dyan Castillejo and Quitino Henson, each of the recipients delivered speeches that tugged at the heart, eliciting lusty cheers.
I am deeply honored, too, that I was with Quinito in the Selection & Review Committee of the Hall of Fame Awards, together with Ignacio Dee of Manila Daily Shimbun, Dodo Catacutan of Spin.ph and Jun Lomibao of Business Mirror.
Worth extolling was the speech of Ramon Fernandez. Here:
“First of all, my heartfelt gratitude to the Philippine Sports Commission led by Chairman Patrick Gregorio, the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame Selection Committee, the Philippine Olympic Committee led by President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, our friends from the media who have faithfully chronicled and shared the stories of Philippine sports through the years, and everyone who deemed me worthy of this extraordinary honor.
“To be enshrined in the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame is something I never imagined when I first picked up a basketball as a young boy from Maasin, Southern Leyte, carrying nothing more than a dream and a love for the game.
“For any athlete, this is the summit. To stand here tonight among the greatest names in Philippine sports is both humbling and deeply meaningful.
“This recognition is not simply about championships, trophies, records or awards. It is a reminder that the years of hard work, sacrifice, discipline, perseverance and service to the game truly mattered.
“No athlete reaches this stage alone. I share this honor with the coaches who guided me, the teammates who battled beside me, the opponents who challenged me, the fans who supported me, and the many friends and family members who stood by me throughout my journey.
“Most especially, I dedicate this recognition to my wife, Karla, my number one supporter, who is here with me tonight. Thank you for your unwavering love, encouragement and faith in me. Whatever legacy I leave behind has become richer and more meaningful because you have shared your life and the rest of this journey with me.
“To the young athletes of today, allow me to leave you with a simple message: Talent may open the door. But character, discipline, humility and consistency will determine how far you go. Respect the game. Respect the people who help you. Never stop learning and never take shortcuts.
“Excellence is not built in one great performance. It is built in the choices you make every single day. If my story proves anything, it is that a young probinsyano can dream big, work hard, honor God, stay the course and make it.
“Over the years, basketball gave me more than I ever dreamed possible. It gave me the privilege of wearing Numbers 10 and 19. It gave me championships, lifelong friendships and names that fans generously bestowed upon me…The Franchise, El Presidente and Don Ramon.
“But as meaningful as those honors are, the greatest gift basketball gave me was the opportunity to inspire others and serve the Filipino people through sports.
“Today, I accept this honor with a grateful heart. Tomorrow, I can happily return home to Cebu, play a little golf, cast a fishing line, tend to the farm and enjoy life’s simple blessings, knowing that I gave the game everything I had and that the game gave me far more in return.
“Yet my journey in sports does not end here. I will continue supporting and advocating for the development of young Filipino athletes because the true legacy of sports is not measured by the trophies we win but by the lives we inspire.
“A PROBINSYANO MADE IT!!!
“From the bottom of my heart, thank you for allowing me to be part of Philippine sports history.
“Daghang salamat, Pilipinas!
“Mabuhay ang atletang Pilipino!
“Mabuhay tayong lahat!”
THAT’S IT It is still on to Wimbledon for Alex Eala despite yielding a 6-3, 6-3 loss to Belgium’s Elise Mertens yesterday in the Homburg Open in Germany. Wimbledon has always been Eala’s ultimate goal while playing in several grass courts in Europe in preparation for the year’s third tennis major that begins June 29 and ends July 12 in London. Go, get ‘em, Alex!
ReyFort Media 
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