Initiated... not!

I got this last Friday after playing football in the Institute's sportsfest.

(Background). I injured myself while playing football (scrimmage only!)last March 5th. I sprinted to catch up with a wayward ball when I felt a sharp pain on the underside of my right thigh. I slowed down a bit, then accelerated again but the pain was still there. I decided to allow Olen to get the ball (she was on the other team) while I limped towards the touch line. Right then, I knew I strained my hamstring.

I couldn't walk normally, I couldn't undo/do my shoe laces. So that was the start of a one-week no-sport week. I had to have this injury shaken off quickly- the Institute games were about to start in two weeks and our team was to play first!

The healing time I alloted was actually one day more than a week. Since our team were playing the following week, I called for a practice on March 13th. My right thigh still hurt so I did not strain it too much- I actually used my right foot during the duration of the practice. Another practice was held a day before the game (Thursday), and again I used my left leg more.

Come game day, I relied on my right leg more. Grabe, it hurt but I just let it be. Shaking my leg once in a while when the ball was not in our half. The game ended and I did a lot of running, free kicks, long clears jumping headers and other "normal" moves.

Friday night, Sheila noticed that I had a small bruise at the lower portion on the back of my thigh. I did not hurt.

The following Saturday, we scoured Divisoria for a variety of stuff. When we came home, there... my overly strained hamstring... so, no sports for 2 weeks again... Sigh...

Pre-Year-End Update

With only a few days left in November and the whole of December remaining for 2008, here's a summary of the tournaments that kept my sports life busy.



Cheers to an active 2008!

More badminton tournaments: KBP and LJ Cups

Been quite busy with work and stuff but could still squeeze in some time for badminton tournaments.

First, Sheila and I joined the Bukas Loob sa Diyos (BLD) Cup last January (Premier Sportz Zone, Calamba City). It was small tournament and was lucky enough to finish 2nd in our level. See previous post here.

KBP Cup

Then in April, Pogs and I, along with other pairs from IRRI, joined the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) tourney (Club 650 at Libis, Quezon City). We didn't fare well. Even our other companions didn't do a lot better. What the heck- it was almost a national tournament! Sheila this time paired with Mary.

Thanks to Anton Daluz who adopted for two nights!

LJ Cup '08

And then last weekend (Sept 14th), Sheila and I joined the LJ Cup '08, again at the Premier Sportz Zone, Calamba City. I just sent Ethel (our badminton apparel supplier) an SMS a week before the tournament if we could join and she listed us in level 3 (thanks, Ethel!). Jelo and Epoy also joined, as a last minute addition to level 1- they sent the message to Ethel the Friday before!

Sheila and I dropped one game. A card of 2 wins - 1 loss was not enough to advance to cross-over (two brackets in level 3 MXD- only the top pair will advance). The pair who dealt us our sole loss eventually lost to the top pair from the other bracket. Well, even if we advanced to the championships, our chances of winning would be very slim. The champions could very well be placed in level 2. Tsk, sayang! But no sour-grapes around here! With only one day of practice, Php300 joining fee (inclusive of court fees, shuttlecocks, tournament shirt, lunch and snacks), I have no complaints. Well, may be just the heat. :p

The Jelo-Epoy tandem did a better finish- 2nd place! I tip my hat to the two!

For a job well done, we treated ourselves to a hearty meal of bulalo at Aviles Restaurant (Real, Calamba City). We also feasted on Jelo's afritada.

Next tournament: Laguna Cup Calamba Leg (Sept. 28th, Premier Sportz Zone)

Being a manager

Tough job, if you ask me...

Yup football managers really have a difficult task of rounding up the players, fix their conflicting schedules, decide on the uniform and of course the transportation.

Tomorrow IRRI FC will be testing the mettle of Manila-based players in a mixed futsal event: MIXED FUTSALA, sponsored by Mizuno, for the benefit of the RP Ladies' Futsal team.

After may be a couple of months of recruiting and planning, I gathered around 15 willing and abled bodies to make up the team. I attended the caoches'/managers' meeting, decided what to wear, listed what items to bring and manage the financials, then it happened. One by one, the so-called committed players that confirmed, asked to be dropped from the rolls. While most had valid reasons, I'm totally disgusted with this one. He was even the most talkative of the lot (he would express one sentence in around 100 words. I have one word for that: BULL). Three days before D-day, he said he was sick, blah blah. Finally today he said wasn't joining. I was actually relieved he's not coming. This will be the last time I'll ask him to join something.

Actually, these were the only glitches. Most of the regulars will still be joining. Our most compassionate player will be coming late. Our most prolific scorer will be keeper, and I'm still hoping 2 former class A lady players will be joining us.

Photos will be courtesy of SheilaQ and JackJ. But won't be posted until monday. (wink)

2008: Start The Year Right

And yes we did!

Sheila and I entered ourselves in the 2nd Badminton sa Laguna District sponsored by the Bukas Loob sa Diyos (San Pablo City) last January 20th, 2008, along with other pairs from IRRI/ISAAA/WorldFish. All the smashings were held at the Premiere Sports Zone in Calamba City.

The two of us were placed at Level 5. There were 7 levels (2-8, with level 2 being the most advanced). Since the tournament was small, there was only one bracket per level. Sheila was already complaining wednesday (before the tournament) because we were initially placed at level 7, then we were placed 2 levels up!

There were 5 pairs in our bracket, and with the single round robin format, we were to play 4 games. The top pair after all the games will be declared the champions.

Game one. The first pair we played against, the guy was strong (level 2 in the men's doubles) but his partner was no match for Sheila's skills. Yeah, the guy was skillful, but Sheila and I held our own. We managed to squeak in the win, through Sheila's heart-stopping, net-hugging drop shot! (Sorry Epoy, I had to smash...).

Game two. The next pair were the eventual champions (oops, sorry for the spoiler). Anyway, we lost in two sets. Probably one our more forgettable games. We were bent on our offense but the other pair was just pushing the shuttle back to us, forcing us to make errors. Darn.

Game three. The married couple Consie-Atoy (also from IRRI). These two we always play against back in the IRRI courts. And I'm proud to say that before, they were always the pair to beat. Sheila and I couldn't simply beat them! They would win with the slimmest of margins! But recently, we could already return the compliment... and returned it again during this tourney. :)

Game four. Due to my spoiler in game two, we were only in the running for 2nd place. The last pair we met only had one loss also (the same pair that gave us our lone defeat). In this last game, Sheila and I gave it our all. The guy was a strong smasher/driver and his partner also a strong smasher. In the first set, we lost due to my serving error at 14-all (tsk! I wasn't paying attention to the score!).

We took the second set with still more points to spare. I danced Epoy-style when She and I defended the fort and left the enemy with "that was yours" look.

At that start of the deciding set, Coach Jelo then reminded me that the guy's game is now off and told me not to play their game. As usual, we started slow, 1-6 (duh!). Then rage filled me when the guys smashed straight to Sheila. I didn't mind if he smashed at me. Immediately I focused on smashing the shuttle as soon as I got the opportunity. I said to Sheila, "gaganti tayo..." And then the shuttle weakly raised in front of me and I jumped and smashed! "Tsk, nakailag si gago!" I said to myself. I cheered with my "success", ala-Jepoy (I glanced at the umpire, for she might caution me, hehehehe...). Just like what Coach Epoy says, "kahit di pumasok basta tumama sa tao."

And when it was time to leave, I realized I should have planted more shuttles in his body: They claimed they were second place! The nerve with this guy, didn't even bother double checking their standing!

Anyway, we got it sorted at match control and they took our pics with the ceremonial medals. :)

Other pairs from our group:

Jelo-Anchie, 2nd place MD L2
Epoy-Jing, 2nd place MXD L3
EJ-Joan, 2nd place MXD L2
Rhulyx-Rizza
Jon-Tess
Jess-Epoy
Lowel-Ernie
Vi-Afril
Mina-May

IRRI FC joins in 1st Mizuno Corporate Futsal Cup

The IRRI Football Club (IRRI FC) participated last Sunday, September 16, 2007 in the 1st Mizuno Corporate Cup held at the prestigious Dasmariñas Village in Makati City.

IRRI FC played in bracket A along with Globe FC, Citigroup FC, HSBC-2 and powerhouse Union FC/Real Soluziona. SR Metal, Inc., HSBC-1, Accenture FC, Satoshi FC and Ogilvy FC comprised bracket B.

IRRI FC is composed of goal keeper Tanguy Lafarge (CESD), Gay Carrillo, Darlene Sanchez, Rhulyx Mendoza, Kofi Bimpong (PBGB) Jonathan Mendoza (CRIL) and Icoy Mercado (PBGB). The team was reinforced with the addition of Jyron Mendoza (brother of Rhulyx), Jojo Telosa (brother of Anthony Telosa, GRC) and former GRC staff Monique Barile. Sheila Quilloy (GRC), Ems Deomano (CRIL) and Dr. Lafarge’s family also joined to watch and cheer.

In their first game, IRRI FC scored the first goal but Globe FC quickly scored level after the kick-off. The two teams were still tied 2-2 during the final 12.7 seconds but a wayward ball from Globe FC found its way to goal for a 2-3 IRRI FC loss.

Excellent defense by Tanguy and Icoy paired with goals by Monique, Kofi, Jojo, and brothers Rhulyx and Jyron lifted IRRI FC to two consecutive wins against Citigroup (4-2) and HSBC-2 (5-0).



In the last game, IRRI FC faced Union FC/Real Soluziona reinforced with former national team players. After allowing one goal, IRRI FC leveled the match 1-1. However, fatigue caught up with the rice researchers and went to lose the game 5-1.

IRRI FC, with 2 wins and 2 loses, finished 3rd. Globe FC (4-0) and Union FC/Real Soluziona (3-1) advanced to the semifinals.

Photos can be viewed here.

PISSED

After watching the Ladies' 3rd place game between Peach and Gray, I'm pissed, really.

I haven't seen the kind of unsports(wo)man attitude displayed by April Muere during today's game since our own high school intramurals. In high school, the players are so much immature as compared to people with jobs, especially working in an international institute.

She was so physical, using her bulge-ful body to bulldoze the Peach team. But what really ticked me off is her jeering in the court. One of our players were shooting free throws. After missing the last shot, this excuse of a "HR employee" went up to our player and made faces and jeered in our player's face. And she's and HR employee, much less, a secretary there. :p BASTOS KA, APRIL MUERE.

May be the organizers of this annual event, which is incidentally the HR relations, should make clear the objectives of the sportsfest... Because their own secretary obviously doesn't know! Bummer.

basket kanina

grabe..ang galing ng laro ng peach at blue kanina...........
si mary nag r-rebound!!!! san ka pa nun. sa mga di nakapanood...tsk...sayang di nyo nakita kung pano nilampaso ng peach ang blue!!!!!!! o ha.... kala nyo magaling ang blue...bilog ang bola!!! yahu kala nyo.....
namaos na kami kakasigaw ng GO PEACH!

pambihira lamang na lamang na ang peach.........yung nga lang nakahabol ang blue....
ayun talo ang peach...sadness.....

(as written by Tiny, 6/28/2007, after the Peach vs. Baby Blue Basketball Ladies' semifinal game)

Peaches thank you for supporting the team in everyway possible ;)

Hope you’re not discouraged with the turn out…..remember we did well ;) considering that every game is our practice hehehe.

Hoping in the next game we’ll still play our best ;)

And next season we will go for the win…no more skipping of practice, please ladies continue to play basketball and recruit also ;)

And hoping the next time we’ll have a permanent coach…..basketball is a team game from the cheerers, players, and coaches ;)

Don’t give up on our team ;) PLEASE!!!!

YOU ARE THE BEST DRIBBLING BABES AND BEST COACHES ;)

See you on our next practice ;) Thank you very much! mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmwah

(as written by Mary, Team Captain of the Peach Ladies' Basketball Team)

Another Sad Ending

Defeat is always painful. Losing twice is terrible. Being trashed 6-2? Don't ask.

Ten matches against team Rhulyx and we only won once. 1/10 since 2005... A measly ten per cent.

Football season officially ended yesterday with Peach team (sporting the maroon color) losing to the Pink team in the 2nd game of the best of three series. Pink won the opener, 5-1, I think.

With my contract ending October 2007, this may even be my last game in sportsfest football. Too bad...

Rhulyx was just so good. Too good, with so much class... Nearing forty, you'd think he was 25 when you see him play.

Too bad for us Peach.

Botak '07

And so it begins anew...

OU wars (see previous posts) at IRRI commenced last tuesday, Feb 13th. Opening ceremonies were, as usual, held at the basketball court. After all the blahs-blahs and the oath of sportsmanship (oh, really now...), Dr. Willy Padolina signaled officially started hostilities by clapping two wood boards, and off we went!

The ~5k fun run started from the Training Center Rotunda, circling the demo field thrice and ending at the AgEngineering building. The top 20 runners (for both men's and women's division) garnered points. Obviously (but nonetheless sadly), I wasn't able to make it in the top 20.

But who cares! I finished the race and the team (GO PEACH! GO PEACH! GO PEACH!) went to go on a rampage, and won the top honors. The peach men's collective points were miles away from the nearest contender, the fink team. The ladies came in second to the pink team.

Go Peach! Hopefully, this is a sign of better things to come!

Botak 07

Failure

Remember Guns n' Roses' "Civil War?" The first narrative line goes: "what we've got here is failure to communicate." In our case, "what we've got here is failure to make a goal."

11th Alaska Cup 2006. IRRI Men's team had no wins, made no goals and, oh boy, were they generous... Four games and 28 goals. All against us. Bummer. Well, call it sour graping, we were bracketed with teams raring for the championship. They doing half and full volley kicks, mid field attempts (I think one even got it!). They have bodies built for medium weight wrestlers!

First game, beginning of the first half, "IRRI, let's play!" Second half, "IRRI, let's pray!" Imagine that...

But all did not end in total failure. The women's team fared much better than last year, and much, much better than us! Two wins, one draw and one loss, however, was not enough for them to advance to the next stage. Still, being part of the "team management," it was great improvement for the ladies. :) Congratulations!

Hat Trick

Hat Trick: (n.) scoring three goals in a single football match

Yes, I did a hat trick today. I scored 3 goals against the Gold Team, and our team, the Maroon, won 5-2. Geert scored the other two. Well, I could have “easily” made at least four goals but it is not my nature “not to pass to more open teammates.”

It was the last match of the eliminations of the 2006 IRRI Sportsfest Football tournament. The Gold team is consistently lacking players. But some of our teammates were over confident with how the team was doing this year, and did not show up. We men were just 7 (no male substitutes!) and the ladies had one. Even though the Gold team were just 6, they gave us a hard time, and even made 2 goals.

Anyway, it felt so good deep down inside to do a hat trick. Too bad, I don’t have pictures to brag about. It was also comforting that my colleagues were there watching. And they even said they understand the game more. :)

We face Rhulyx’s unbeatable Apple Green team. Just one win of the best-of-three. Or even two. I won’t complain.