Growing up, I hated all sports that involved balls. I was most afraid of the baseball ball because it seemed so tiny yet it moved as fast as lightning. I think I hit none of them during my PE (Physical Education) classes with Ma’am Cerla. My inadequacy in ball sports did not hinder me to be a huge fan of team and individual sports, most especially basketball.

I was 15 when I watched my first live PBA (Philippine Basketball Association) game. It was a match between Purefoods TJ Hotdogs and Sunkist. It featured superstars Alvin Patrimonio and Vergel Meneses, but it was Rey Evangelista who I stalked during and after the game. And the day after.

With the help of Christine and Alexys, I was able to secure the autographs and photos of ALL the players of Purefoods and Sunkist. When I showed the promising start of what-could-have-been my sports memorabilia collection to my classmates, one of them tore the Glenn Capacio autograph because he liked him so much. I cried.

With this party-pooper of a story, I will continue with the third installment of 90s trivia questions, but this time, the 15 questions I made are related to Philippine sports.

Internet searches, asking for help and/or skipping to the end of this entry for answers is considered cheating.

1. Who won the bronze medal in the featherweight division in Taekwondo in Barcelona Olympics? What is the sport she excelled in before she switched to taekwondo? What is the product she endorsed? (HINT: You are supposed to consume it everyday) (3 points)

2. Who is the first Southeast Asian to compete at the World Cup Showjumping Finals in Sweden in 1999? Name her politician father. (2 points)

3. Who holds the Guinness Book of World Records for most Bowling World Cup wins at 4? (1 point)

4. Who is the first Filipino athlete to be listed in the Guinness Book of World Records. In 1993, she and the answer in #3 were inaugurated to the International Bowling Hall of Fame. (1 point)

5. In the 1990s, what were the three conferences in the Philippine Basketball Association that comprise the Grand Slam? (3 points)

6. Which PBA (Philippine Basketball Association) team won the 1996 Grand Slam? Who was the player who made the crucial two free throws after he was fouled in the FINAL SECOND of the first conference (and broke my heart in the process)? Who was the player who fouled him (HINT: His son is a popular UAAP player now)? (3 points)

7. Who was the tall top draft pick of 1996 PBA season? He was drafted by Ginebra Na! Who was the ace point guard that played along side this tall player? (2 points)

8. Who won the most number of PBA MVP (Most Valuable Player) Award in the 1990s? What team/s did he play for? How many MVP trophies did he win? (3 points)

9. Who is the oldest player who participated in a PBA game? What is the catchphrase associated with this legend? (2 points)

10. Who are the PBA players who have these nicknames? The Skywalker, Mr. Excitement, Captain Lionheart, The Triggerman, and Tower of Power. (5 points)

11. Who is the sports analyst, also known as “The Dean” who gave copious amount of trivia about Filipino and foreign athletes either on TV or on his Philippine Star column? What is the name of his column on Phil Star? What popular food brand did his wife endorse/came out as commercial model several times (HINT: something served hot)? (3 points)

12. Which UAAP (University Athletic Association of the Philippines) team won a 14-0 sweep of the 1993 season? Who was the coach of this team? Which UAAP team was their rival during their 4-peat years? (3 points)

13. What is Manny Pacquiao’s first world boxing title? He won this title in Thailand in December 1998. (1 point)

14. Who won the bronze medal in Men’s Light Flyweight in Barcelona Olympics? Who was his brother who won the silver medal in Men’s Light Flyweight in Atlanta Olympics? (2 point)

15. Who won the WBC Super Flyweight belt on February 20, 1997? (1 point)

 

ANSWERS:

1. Bea Lucero/Bea Lucero Lhuillier/Beatriz Lucero Lhuillier and she was excellent in gymnastics. Milo EVERYDAY!

Bea Lucero, like Mikee Conjuangco, was what every little girl aspired for. The way she bent her limbs or sliced the air with her kicks in those Milo commercials just made me want to gulp down galloons of the chocolate drink. And yes, Nido or Alpine just tasted better with Milo.

2. Marie Antoinette “Toni” Leviste and Antonio Leviste

Raise your hand if you answered Mikee Cojuangco. Toni was the one who focused on her riding more and later on became an Olympian. I loved the foursome of Toni and Vince Hizon and Mikee and Dodot Jaworski. Remember the time when the four of them were featured on magazines?

3. Rafael “Paeng” Nepomuceno, and he won the titles in Iran (1976), Indonesia (1980), France (1992), and Northern Ireland (1996). 

I played bowling a total of three times in my entire life, but I read a lot about Nepomuceno’s wins on Philippine Star.

4. Olivia “Bong” Coo

I played bowling a total of three times in my entire life.

5. All-Filipino Conference, Commissioner’s Cup and Governor’s Cup.

The most exciting was All-Filipino Conference because as the name suggests, only Filipinos played. The other two had imports and the teams’ fates lied heavily on the imports’ skills. Also, Rey Evangelista had to compete against them for rebounds. It was stressful watching Rey (feeling close) struggle against and often get beaten by taller or bigger ex-NBA players.

6. Alaska Aces, Jeffrey Cariaso and Bong Ravena.

When Ravena fouled Cariaso, I said all the curse words I knew. Then, I prayed fervently that the latter would make none of the free throws. Sigh. He made both. 🙁 Jeffrey Cariaso’s jersey number was 22. They said that it stood for 2-for-2 free throws. Purefoods’ loss to Alaska was my first real heartbreak as a fan of any sport. It marked the start of my hatred towards Alaska. It only lessened when I saw them practice in Blue Eagle Gym once a week for a month. My judo class was in the upper portion of the gym, and I sat in the bleachers to watch them run drills.

7. Marlou Aquino and Bal David

For me, Marlou Aquino was the Shaquille O’Neal of the PBA. If the team needs points, just lob the ball in his general direction and he would surely catch it and slamdunk it over three defenders. Bal David was Christine’s answer to my Rey Evangelista. I have to admit, their David and Goliath tandem worked really well.

8. Alvin Patrimonio of Purefoods TJ Hotdogs and Purefoods Carne Norte Beefies won four MVP awards (1991, 1993, 1994, and 1997).

Patrimonio was known by many names among the PBA fans. One is Captain Lionheart because he played every game like it was his last. Another is Ironman because of his streak of most consecutive games played (I am not sure if it has been broken). Or El Capitan because he was the captain of Purefoods. According to a survey, Purefoods was the most popular team among women. I am sure Patrimonio’s good looks contributed to it. I met him four times, and he was nice to his fans. He also smelled good. ☺ GWAPO!

9. Robert Jaworski, Sr. played his last game in 1997 in Dumaguete City at the age of 50.

Jaworski was the player I feared the most when Purefoods had a game against Ginebra. He was so good when he was on, and he just never quit. I also remember him for his short shorts as per PBA standards in the 90s, and for his “This is you” lines every time he pointed at Nips-looking colored metallic stuck on the coach’s board.

10. Samboy Lim, Paul Alvarez, Alvin Patrimonio, Allan Caidic and Benjie Paras

These guys made the 90s PBA electrifying.

11. Joaquin “Quinito” Henson has a column called Sporting Chance. His wife Menchu was Miss/Mrs Maggi of Nestle.

I religiously read his column for years, and tried to remember all the tidbits of trivia he wrote/said. Henson and Andy Jao were my favorite PBA analysts.

12. UST Growling Tigers was helmed by Aric del Rosario. The Tigers’ main rival was La Salle Green Archers.

UST Growling Tigers produced some of the most notable PBA players like Rey. ☺ The 1993 team was a thing of beauty. It was just a shame that UAAP was not as big as it is now.

13. WBC Flyweight Championship
14. Roel Velasco and Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco
15. Gerry Peñalosa

I do not follow boxing, but I watched all of Onyok Velasco’s fights in the Olympics. My cousin and I were awake at ungodly hours to watch in silence as Onyok punched his way to a gold medal. He lost, but he is my favorite pugilist.

YOUR BATANG 90S METER:  

30-35 – You are really a batang 90s. Congrats! You are also as jologs as I am.

20-29 – You may be a batang 90s, but you did not pay attention to the TV sets. It is okay, you must be very smart or rich or both right now. Too much TV exposure fries the brain cells. I am kidding. I think.

10-19 – If you are in your teens, it is fine because this happened way before your time. If you are older than 28 and you got this score, I am judging you right now. 🙂 How was your childhood? Hehe.

less than 10 – Weh? Di nga? Do not fight the inner batang 90s in you. 🙂 Let it out like a raging diva, your life would be happier.

For more trivia questions, please read Part I, Part II and Part IV.