Philippine Sports News and Updates

Ambassador Maglaya said the OFWs, all female, usually get into trouble because they enter the country illegally. Consequently they are stranded.

The visiting Realtors were there to cheer them up and give away phone cards so they could call their families back home.

But the short walk between the two offices was far from being pleasant. The sun was blazing with the temperature registering about 40 degrees plus Celsius. The heat was unbearable.

The ambassador confirmed that August is the hottest month in the Gulf, estimating the current temperature to be in the vicinity of 42 degrees Celsius. He said it could go as high as 49 to 50 degrees but the actual reading is never made known to the public, probably in order not to scare the tourists away.

Sta. Lucia owner Exie Robles, head of the visiting delegation, believed the temperature that day was at its maximum—49 to 50 degrees. He felt very uncomfortable and dehydrated even if he was exposed to the sun only for a few minutes.

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The Realtors are on a three-city tour of the Gulf where they will play two exhibition games against local teams in every city. Their other stops are Doha, Qatar and Dubai.

Understandably, coach Boyet Fernandez is not too excited about the PBA rookie draft which is scheduled on Aug. 31, the arrival date of the Realtors in Manila.

The Realtors are hoping they would at least have time to go home and freshen up before they proceed to Market! Market! mall in Taguig City where the event will be held.

Boyet said he is not too keen on the draft because Sta. Lucia is the last to pick in the first round.

“By the time our turn comes around, baka wala nang matira (there might be no more choices left).” Boyet said he needs a big man.

I asked him a hypothetical question: Assuming Sta. Lucia was the first in the drafting order, whom would he pick?

Boyet didn’t even have to think long.

“Dillinger,” he readily replied, without batting an eyelash. His coaching staff Adonis Tierra and Cholo Martin, who were having breakfast in the same table, agreed. So did Realtor Ryan Reyes who has seen the cager play in the United States.

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“But who is Dillinger?” I asked. I absolutely know nothing about his background. Is he related to the gangster John?

Boyet seems to know him well.

“He’s a 6-5 Filipino-German who was discovered in Hawaii. He’s best at the point but he also plays the 2, 3 and 4 positions. Sobrang galing (Very good). He’s very versatile, can post up, shoot and play one-on-one. The only thing we don’t know is how well he can defend. He’s an exciting player. He can also dunk and he has the built,” Boyet filled us in.

Adonis said they spotted him on television playing for the Pampanga team in the Liga Pilipinas. And they got curious. Between Filipino-American Gabe Norwood and Dillinger (whose first name is Jared), the coaches’ consensus was that they would pick Dillinger anytime.