Sports Weekly Magazine
March 03-10, 1978
Pyke F. Jocson
The afternoon takes its toll and falls heavy, the sky elaborates, and one strong ray unhitches itself from up and floats off towards faint San Juan.
Lt. Artiaga street doesn’t have the arched eyebrows of Dasmariñas. Nor does it have the twang of Magallanes.
It is three o’ clock and the undone street is empty. Nothing smells of luxury.
The sound of mahjong blocks signals we are on the right track. The quorum on the table lazily whiling the afternoon were familiar faces. We can see them from where we are.
Out of the newly-painted mahogany gate is a group of men, probably who have had a few bottles of beer. And as they speed away, a figure, boyish in his sleeveless shirt, maong pants that reaches the ground, wearing nothing on his feet, flashes a smile, waves and ushers us in.
He is Philip Cezar, alright, handsome in some natural way, boy-man with his gait, and certainly as big as life.
The house is about three months old. In fact, everything in there, from the mini lawn to the interior, smells new.
“It has three bedrooms upstairs. Pero may maids’ quarters sa ibaba,” Mrs. April Cezar quips as she leads us in, her hands clinging to our arms like a warm welcome.
Philip removes the bottles of beer on the center table of the cozy living room and calls a maid to dry the glass top and empty the almost-pregnant ashtrays.
The setting cleared of unwanted objects, we throw ourselves on the brown sofa’s flattering cushion.
Philip excuses himself and asks whether his attire will do for Mon’s camera.
Getting the nod, he rushes up for a last minute seeing through.
April disengages herself from the quorum at the driveway and plays hostess to us.
“Ewan ko ba, naawa nga ako sa kanya. Pero parang wala naman magagawa at the moment but wait,” she says pointblank as if knowing fully well why we are seeing Philip.
“Kanya-kanya talagang araw ang tao, it so happens that my husband feels so affected by the mess he’s in. Sayang. Sana matapos na ito.”
April excuses herself and joins the quorum after one lady on the mahjong table has called on her.
We feast our eyes with the simplicity and the smoothness of lines in the Cezar interior. From where we are seated, we have a good look of the elegant dining table rested on an elevated floor. Beside the front door facing us is a small bar complete with wineglasses and several imported bottles. But the big thing in the house is the chandelier which spells chaste and sophistication inside and which spells class from outside, it giving a wide peep into the house through a wall glass.
In five minutes’ time, Philip is back.
He insists we take beer.
“Pare, wala naman noon masyado personal. Baka mas lalong lumala ang situwasyon. And I don’t want that to happen. I’ll talk if it will help. Pero kung makakasama, sana maintindihan mo, pare,” He sort of warns us.
Then, he begins.
“Wala pang linaw. But somebody has already made a move for us to talk things over. Sana makapag-usap na kami ni coach so we can settle things, kung ano ang pagkukulang ko, bakit nangyari ito.”
You mean, you haven’t talked with Baby since the misunderstanding occurred?
“Hindi pa. Ni minsan. I didn’t have the chance.”
Can you think of an instance na masasabi mong doon nag-start ang trouble?
“Wala, wala talaga. I just learned about it after a game. Akala ko one of those things lang iyong noon una. But when I was sparingly utilized, pagkatapos ibinangko na nga, it was only then that I knew something was wrong.”
You didn’t show up in some of the games?
“Somebody told me to do so. Kung sa akin lang, siyempre hindi ako basta-basta makaka-absent. Obligasyon ko yan eh. Pero I was requested to do so. Ginawa ko lang ang sinabi sa akin.”
How are you taking things?
“Problema yan, diba? Now that I don’t join the team even in practices, medyo nag-iinsayo akong mag-isa. Pero it’s different. You know that. Pero, in a way, dapat pa rin akong magpa=kundisyon for my sake.”
How important do you think you are to the Crispa team?
“No comment. Can’t say. Ikaw, what do you think?”
What can get you back to Crispa?
“I still believe I’m with Crispa. I haven’t entertained the thought of moving out of my mother team. I can never leave the team kung ako lang ang masusunod. Pero kung sila na ang magpapa-alis sa akin talaga, wala na akong magagawa. I just have to go to a team na makapagbibigay sa akin ng tiwala, at siyempre, kung magkakasundo kami sa presyo ko.”
How long will you, and can you, wait?
“I don’t know. Everything is uncertain now. Medyo cool lang tayo.”
Is the accusation affecting you?
“Mahirap talaga. The talks, you know. Pero ano pa ang magagawa ko? Andiyan na yan. I have to bear up with the wild talks.”
Wild talks, what are you referring to?
“Yun sinasabi nga nila sa akin. Alam mo na yon. Pero it’s not true. God knows it’s not true. Ang hirap talaga. If you play well, they say nothing. Pag masama ang laro mo, sasabihin nagbebenta ka. No choice. And I don’t expect to play exceptional games everytime. There will be off nights naturally. I’m no superman.”
You think you’ve reached your peak in caging?
“At 25, hindi pa. I have so many things to learn. I still have a long way to go and am willing to learn. Minsan siguro, nagkakamali ako. But the more important thing is I’m willing to improve and help Crispa to earn more victories.”
What are your plans?
“Matapos ako sa basketball, saan pa ako susuot? Sa negosyo. Iyon lang, di ba? Pero, I’d rather play the game for more years, hanggang kaya ko.”
Your ambitions?
“I have a good wife, a cute daughter, a nice home. Sana makapaglaro uli ako sa Crispa. Pagkatapos magkaroon ng award. Siguro, it will only be then that I can say, I cannot ask for more.”
At this stage, what can you say about your relations with Crispa?
“No problem kay Boss (Danny Floro). Pero kung kailangan nila ako, kailangan ko rin sila.”