To read Part 1 of our In Memoriam, click here.
Continuing our tribute to those sports personalities who passed away in 2018, we include in our prayers for eternal repose some of our countrymen and women who also became game-changers in their respective fields while still among us.
We bid farewell to renowned stage and film directors Celso Ad Castillo, Bernardo Bernardo and Maryo J. de los Reyes, iconic actors Spanky Manikan, Alona Alegre, Rolly Quizon and "Miss Tapia" Mely Tagasa, world class designer Pitoy Moreno, national artist Napoleon Abueva, influential musicians Rene Garcia of Hotdog and Rico J. Puno, statesman Roilo Golez and former senator Edgardo Angara.
We also lift up to Heaven our loved ones who left us such as my nephew Marko de Guzman, who succumbed to wounds he sustained in a vehicular accident last October. He was only 21 and was set to graduate from college in 2019. Tragic.
Our tribute goes on.
Jerome Cueto, 58 (August 25) - former National Team Basketball Player and Coach (heart failure)
Unknown to many, Cueto was among those the late legendary coach Ron Jacobs selected into his fold in the Northern Consolidated Cement (NCC) roster along with future icons Hector Calma, Franz Pumaren also with coaches Jong Uichico and Bong Ramos. This FEATI University point guard showcased his craft in the then Philippine Amateur Basketball League (PABL) and was on the national team line-up that competed in several international tournaments during the 1980s. However, Cueto never made it to the PBA and went on to influence lives as a developmental coach in Los Angeles, California. He suffered his fatal heart attack on the morning of his niece's wedding in San Diego, California.
Ian Lariba, 23 (September 2) - Table Tennis Olympian (Leukemia)
Perhaps the biggest shocker was the demise of the country's bubbly and energetic flag bearer during the 2016 Rio Olympics after a sudden relapse of the Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) she appeared to be keeping at bay. Lariba, a three-time UAAP MVP and two-time UAAP co-Athlete of the Year awardee, made history in April of 2016 as the first ever Filipina table tennis athlete to qualify outright for the 31st Olympiad since it became a demonstration sport in Seoul in 1988. Her feat prompted Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) officials to have her carry the nation's colors during the opening ceremonies. In May the following year, Lariba, known fondly as "Yan-Yan", was found to have the sickness and had undergone almost all the prescribed treatment methods to combat the disease, including Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant in October 2017. Lariba had financial help come in from the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and even the Korean national team; pooling together their resources to dole out a $3,000 donation personally delivered to Lariba by 2004 Olympic gold medallist Ryu Seung-min. She was discharged from the hospital on October 23 and through her social media posts, it appeared she was on her way to recovery. However, in January, Lariba was readmitted and it was determined that the cancer cells had spread to her brain and spinal cord. By August, she had a suffered a relapse and died just a few days later at the age of 23. Being one of the most vibrant members of the national team and an always upbeat person, Lariba's loss shook the sports community hard. Steps are now being taken to give all national athletes a thorough medical examination to help spot early signs of any form of illness that can still be quelled in early stages.
Rolly Manlapaz, 58 (September 27) - Venue Announcer (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis)
He was both popular and infamous for his on-court ad-libs that became the trademark of him being perhaps the most known venue announcer in sports since Vince de Guzman (AKA Vince St. Price) in the early 1990s. Manlapaz's deep voice and unabashed energy was felt since 1998 as one of the venue announcers of the now defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association. He later found his way to the PBAvand eventually to the collegiate scene where his barbs were no longer restricted by regulations. Manlapaz began coining monikers for UAAP and NCAA players and while some did not pan out, the likes of "The Beast" (Calvin Abueva), "The Phenom" (Alyssa Valdez) and "The Bus Driver" (Jio Jalalon) became widely accepted. In 2013, Manlapaz, along with this writer and "Rick Stryker" Edwin Logina, were selected to become the official venue announcers for the FIBA Asia Championship. Manlapaz began ailing during the early portion of 2018 while doing the Philippine Superliga announcing duties. He complained of back pains and was said to be undergoing treatment and therapy when he was later diagnosed with what is also known as the dreaded "Lou Gehrig's Disease" or ALS; an affliction that causes the deterioration of neurons that control voluntary muscles. There is no known cure. Many messages of support and prayers spread throughout social media for one of the most endearing individuals who made the "barker" profession an enticing avenue to create in a niche in sports. The original "Phenom" Kiefer Ravena even staged a golf tournament with Manlapaz as one of the beneficiaries. He passed away surrounded by family members before that event could even take place and as a fitting tribute, the UAAP and NCAA-the two leagues that cemented his legacy-gave a "Final Buzzer" to the baritone that had been a staple in college sports for more than a decade.
Rastafari Daraliay, 11 (September 30) - Wushu Athlete (head trauma)
On the morning of September 30th, Daraliay fell from the upper bed of a double-decker at the Wushu team quarters in the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) compound in Manila. His startled teammates awoke and asked the 12-year-old if he was alright, to which he responded in the affirmative. They all settled back in but in the morning, Daraliay-a Taolu aspirant who had been part of the developmental team for three years already-was found to be frothing in the mouth by a PSC staff member and all efforts to revive the boy failed. He was pronounced dead at 9 a.m. Daraliay and his older sister Zion had been regularly training at the PSC compound and Rasta would spend the night at the facility every weekend to make it early for the next day's training. His death was ruled an accident. The PSC, however, has not only given the necessary financial support to his family for funeral expenses but has also decreed that bunk beds will no longer be used in the quarters to prevent such incidents from happening again. Daraliay is the youngest athlete on this tribute but could spark massive changes in the safety of national athletes who reside at the PSC. His father, Vincent, said he would be putting up an advocacy group in his late son's name called RASTA; an acronym for Rastafari Advocacy for the Safety of Today's Athletes.
Rutger Acidre, 24 (October 31) - Collegiate Basketball Player (multiple gunshot wounds)
The senseless shooting of this City University of Pasay combo guard and his girlfriend is among the baffling and heart-rending stories of the year. Acidre, younger brother of former PBA draftee Rocky, and his girlfriend Doris Sara Besaña were felled by multiple gunshots from an unnamed assailant in Sto. Niño, Pasay City on October 24. Besaña died of her wounds the following day. The website of the National Athletic Association of Colleges and Universities (NASSCU), where the CUP Eagles see action, first reported the shooting incident. The Acidre brothers were instrumental in garnering three consecutive NBA 3X Philippines titles in the Men's Open Division from 2013-2016 and Rutger helped the Eagles to its first playoff appearance in school history in the recently concluded NAASCU season. As of this writing, no arrests have been made in conjunction with the killings.
Rey Marquez, 86 (November 11) - former PBA Commissioner (lingering illness)
The fourth commissioner of the PBA, Marquez began as a league executive for the now defunct Formula Shell franchise in the 1980s and was responsible for the acquisition of future Hall of Famers Benjie Paras and Ronnie Magsanoc to indirectly lead the squad to four titles in its 20-year existence. Named PBA Chairman in 1987, Marquez actually held on to the post for three years as we was unanimously installed to sustain the heyday of the league during what is perhaps recognized as the best influx of collegiate stars from Allan Caidic to Alvin Patrimonio to Bong Alvarez into the turn of the decade. He succeeded Rodrigo Salud in 1992 and was instrumental in ushering in the three-conference system as it is known today: the All-Filipino (now known as the Philippine Cup), the Commissioner's Cup and the season-ending Governors' Cup. Marquez held the commissionership until 1994 when PBA Executive Director Jun Bernardino took over. He was remembered as the commissioner that always sought perfection and always gave credit to those working under him for the accomplishments of his tenure. Last December 5, the league honored him with a tribute along with a "Final Buzzer" to show its final respects for the PBA's fourth head honcho.
Johnny Revilla, 70 (December 13) - former PBA Player/former UE Head Coach (lingering illness)
He was one of the original enforcers in the PBA and his basketball savvy was enough to earn him a spot in the 1970 Asian Games quintet. Revilla was in the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors squad that that had a stranglehold of the UAAP in the 1960s and joining his former college coach Baby Dalupan onwards, he was instrumental in the Crispa Redmanizers' dominance in the MICAA and even prestigious tournaments such as the President's Cup and the Philippine Open. Revilla was listed at only 5'10" but was vital in Crispa's early years in the PBA as a defensive stopper and one with the willingness to "take one for the team". He was not ashamed to use his fouls to stop fastbreaks and was considered as one of the toughest cagers in the league. Revilla eventually made his way to the coaching ranks and succeeded champion mentor Jimmy Mariano at the helm of the UE squad that figured against surprise finalists the University of the Philippines (UP) in 1986 with the Maroons dethroning the Warriors from their two-year reign of the UAAP. Revilla passed away in Zambales.
Igor Serbio Donga-el, 29 (December 17) - Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Fighter (drowning)
Dying so that others may live punctuates our final tribute. Team Lakay is perhaps the most known MMA squad in the Philippines and while celebrating their Christmas party at a beach in La Union, Donga-el, a native of nearby Pico La Trinidad, Benguet, reportedly heeded the call of Team Lakay female fighter Pearl Alvarez that she saw three individuals signalling for help as they had drifted too far from shore. Among those in jeopardy was Donga-el's girlfriend as well as two young boys. Donga-el swam all the way to their location and was able to rescue all three before being swept away himself by the strong current. Residents came out and searched the area in boats but it was more than an hour later when Donga-el's lifeless body was seen floating towards the beach. All efforts to resuscitate him were futile and he was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital-but not before sacrificing his life so that three others may live. Team Lakay coach Mark Sangiao later posted, "Igor, you taught us a very important lesson in life. Nothing defeats the purpose of life when it ends for the purpose of sparing lives. You are a warrior, you are a hero."
We also pay a special tribute to FIBA Secretary General and International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Patrick Baumann, who died in duty of a heart attack during the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina last October 14th; dead at only 51 years of age.
Baumann, a native of Switzerland, served as the world basketball federation's acknowledged leader since 2002 and was only the third Secretary General in FIBA's rich history after Dr. William Jones and Borislav Stankovic.
It was through Baumann's intercession that the rift between Philippine basketball stakeholders became resolved in 2007 following a lengthy ban on the country from international meets that barred the nation from hosting the basketball competitions in the 2005 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games and participating in the 2006 Asian Games in Qatar. His guidance allowed the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) to take shape and became the unifying entity for hoops in the archipelago.
"He shared his vision in how to make basketball the biggest sport globally. He is a big loss to the basketball community. I offer my deepest condolences to the family," announced SBP President Al Panlilio when official word on his passing came out.
May God bless us all in the coming 2019. Rest in peace to all who departed in 2018. Happy New Year!