Grief could be felt among the student-athletes of the NCAA on Thursday afternoon. Hours before the first game of the day, news broke of the passing of legendary barker Rolly Manlapaz.
For the fans, hearing Manlapaz’s voice is an added feature to every game. But for the players and coaches, hearing Manlapaz introduce them is an honor.
In the NCAA, former players and now coaches Boyet Fernandez of San Beda and Topex Robinson of Lyceum made sure to honor Manlapaz during their respective games.
“We discussed it before the game. We really sympathize with the loss of a good friend of ours, and also a good employee, especially with the NCAA ,” Fernandez expressed.
“Mamimiss namin yung mga sigaw niya dito sa Arena, especially when he calls me Teodorico, not Boyet. I’m gonna miss that.”
“Again, that’s why we always honor this basketball game because so many people gave their lives here. This has been their home,” Robinson shared.
“We make sure that we’re gonna honor them by always playing up to our best. We know that he’s been a part of this industry longer than I guess I’ve been here. We offer prayers for his family.”
Even if they are just at the start of their young careers, Robert Bolick and CJ Perez have also been blessed by Manlapaz, who has chronicled big names like Calvin Abueva and Kiefer Ravena in the past.
During his rookie season with San Sebastian six years ago, Manlapaz immediately gave Perez a moniker that pays tribute to former Golden Stag Abueva by anointing him as “The Baby Beast”.
“Kay Sir Rolly nanggaling yung ‘Baby Beast’ na yun ever since. Filoil pa lang nun.
“Sobrang happy kami na nabibigyan kami ng moniker dahil sa kanya. Lumalabas yung pangalan namin dahil sa kanya,” said Perez.
On the other hand, Bolick has been a favorite of Manlapaz ever since his days with La Salle.
“Kahit nung nasa La Salle pa ako, kahit nasa bench lang ako, tinatawag pa rin niya ako. Talagang may pinagsamahan din kaming dalawa,” Bolick reflected.
“Nung sa La Salle, sa championship namin sa UST, kahit nasa bench ako tinatawag parin ako niyan e. ‘Di ko nga alam kung bakit niya ako tinatawag. ‘Pag lumalay-up akong ganun, sinisigaw niya, nahihiya tuloy ako mag-warm up.”
And when Bolick finally caught a break with San Beda, Manlapaz was still there – even highlighting the reigning Collegiate Player of the Year’s acrobatic shots with his trademark “dipsy-doo”.
“Kaya ngayon ayoko na mag-ganun ganun [flashy lay-ups]. Eh kasi ‘pag gumaganun ako dati, siya kagad yung sumisigaw ng ‘dipsy-doo’. Ngayon, ‘di na siya.”
All of them are united with the basketball community in mourning the demise and celebrating the life of Manlapaz.
“Hoping that his legacy will stay. Just like how we make sure that we build our legacy for the people that paved the way for us,” said Robinson.
“We’ll pray for him, for sure the whole San beda community does too,” said Fernandez.
“Nakaka-miss din talaga, hopefully nasa magandang lugar na siya,” closed Bolick.
