A Cebuano doctor at the Finals
By Homer D. Sayson
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 12 Jun 2015
CLEVELAND -- Moments before Game 4 of these NBA Finals tipped off here at the Quicken Loans Arena, I wandered near the court to inhale the atmosphere and feel the excitement that was wafting in the cool arena breeze.
As I stood behind the Cleveland Cavaliers bench where center Timofey Mozgov and reserve forward Shawn Marion were warming up, I heard someone feverishly calling me out.
It turned out to be a young doctor from Cebu City, and he came all the way from the Philippines to Cleveland just to watch Games 3 and 4 of these NBA Finals. He paid a cool $2000 for his lower bowl seats, excluding of course plane fares that were required for the thousands of miles journey.
"I'm so excited to see you, sir," said Dr. Bimbo Tequillo, an internist.
So was I.
In my countless trips to the NBA Finals, I never imagined meeting a Cebuano, let alone someone who hails from Guadalupe, the same barangay where I was born and raised.
Dr. Tequilla swore that he and his batch mates at med school were huge fans of mine when I was still whipping a column at a Cebu newspaper and doing NBA commentary for a local radio station.
Indeed, those were the 'ole salad days and it was wonderful to revisit.
After a short but fun chat, the good doc and I parted ways.
MUST WIN. Down 2-1, the Golden State Warriors aren't in a do-or-die situation just yet. One loss won't eliminate them from these championships, but they'd be in much better shape if they win Game 4 because in the history of the NBA Finals all 31 teams that have trailed 3-1 eventually lost the series.
Game 5 of the best of 7 title series shifts to the Oracle Arena in Oakland on Sunday night (Monday AM in Manila). Game 6 returns here in Cleveland next Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) while Game 7 is June 19 (June 20 in Manila) at the Oracle Arena.
Photo: The author with Dr. Bimbo Tequillo of Guadalupe, Cebu City at the Quicken Loans Arena.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Homer D. Sayson.
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