Door ajar for Jumpin’Justin in Manila fray?

AS I said, I was in Cebu last week for a wed ding. But, sadly, I missed the game between Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu and University of Vi sayas on September 10 in the 17th Cesafi high school basketball tournament. It was a shame.

Had I known about the game, I would have moved my Cebu-Manila flight from Sept. 10 to Sept. 11. What is money spent for rebooking— huge, as always— if it is in exchange for a thrill provided no less by Justin “Jumpin’” Javelosa? Justin has been a project for years.

As a result, I missed what Mayra Javelosa, Justin’s super-supportive Mom, had described as Justin’s “break out game.”

Justin fired a game-high 17 points— 7 in the crucial last canto— and grabbed 9 rebounds in powering the Magis Eagles to a rousing

66-52 victory over the UC Baby Wedmasters on Sunday.

This was just the kid I saw runnin’round in circles in Bacolod some years back and now, look at him: He’s crushing basketball biggies like warped watermelons?

When UC trimmed a 13-point deficit to just 4 at 44-48, Justin heaved a triple and next drilled in a long two for Ateneo’s 53-44 4th-quarter l ead.

Often assigned to shackle shooters from the perimeter, Justin’s new-found offensive sock was embellished all the more when he unleashed a mighty put-back for a 57-47 bulge that finally took the fight out of the totally outclassed Baby Webs. Stunning.

Justin is the son of Mayra and Chris, whose parents May and Ramon Uy (he turns a new leaf on Sept. 14), are my dearest friends in Bacol od.

Chris is one of a kind. Instead of endorsing his son, Justin, to me for a basketball tryout in Manila’s Ateneo some years back, Chris instead recommended SJ Belangel. SJ is now a star at Ateneo Manila.

Now, at the rate Justin is playing, the door to Ateneo Manila seems ajar. With or without Chris’say-so, I might yet make my own move. Soon. Right, Mayra?

BAGUIO BIT From Herr Bautista of Baguio City: “I read your column [06/09/17]. May I suggest? 1. PSC should pick 10 cities outside Metro Manila. 2. Give P2M a year each to the Top 2 schools for athletics in these cities to augment their sports budgets. I think this small incentive will revitalize our provincial programs. No part of the subsidy should go to basketball.” PSC Chair Butch Ramirez, your move.