A TRUE PATRIOT AND HERO

By Toto Mortillero

People who are serving in whatever field in pursuit of national glory is considered a patriot. An athlete who is representing his/her country is considered a patriot, much more if he/she fights on the battlefield for the freedom of his/her country.

Teofilo Yldefonso whose monicker was the "Ilocano Shark" represented the Philippine flag in the 200-meter breaststroke in swimming three times specifically in1928, 1932 and 1936 Olympics. He grabbed the bronze medal in the said event during the 1928 and 1932 Olympics and landed seventh in the 1936 Olympics. Such feat is already recorded in the annals of history of the Philippine Sports since we can only count our fingertips as regards to the Filipino athletes who made us proud during the Olympics.

Yldefonso got 144 medals in his 16-year stint as a swimmer and became a member of the SWIMMING HALL OF FAME IN 2009. His unorthodox style of swimming known otherwise as the "Yldefonso stroke" is being adapted by pint-sized swimmers, especially by the Japanese swimmers.

Such accomplishments of Teofilo Yldefonso were already considered patriotic for giving glory to our motherland, the Philippines by way of the Olympics, but his greater legacy was the fact that he joined the Philippine Scout during the Second World War to save the Philippines from the Japanese invaders.

Yldefonso became a lieutenant in the Philippine Scout during the course of the Second World War and was one of those captured and joined the Death March. He survived the said harrowing march of death but later on died in a concentration camp in Capas, Tarlac due to the injuries he got from the said long, tiring and trying march.

His life can be a good inspiration for us, the new generation of Filipinos to be a TRUE PATRIOT AND HERO especially in this very challenging part of our national journey. May his sterling accomplishments be a guiding light for us to be freedom loving people and become good citizens of our country, the Philippines. May his likes increase and may the sunshine of the Philippines never fade in every challenge it has to face. So be it.

THE CAVALIERS MUST REBUILD FOR THEIR FUTURE

By Toto Mortillero

The Cleveland Cavaliers is now considered as the oldest team of the National Basketball Association and has a sub-par performance in the premier basketball league in the world. Even though LeBron James performs like a Most Valuable Player, the Cavaliers have lost ten contests in fourteen games and that is very alarming. Basing on their recent performances it seems like they cannot secure the most prestigious basketball trophy this year, the James Naismith NBA Championship trophy.

So what shall the Cavaliers do to save their basketball team? It is my humble opinion that the Cavs must forget their championship contention for this year and prepare for its future. I believe it is now the most opportune time for them to rebuild the team by trading their old but naturally talented players to the young and fresh ballers and to protect their future draft rights.

Of course the heart and soul of the team, LeBron James must stay, since he would be needed by the soon to be formed fresh Cavaliers team by next season. Tristan Thompson, J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert who performed well for the past three years but underperforming this season must be traded to a younger and stronger guy like the L.A. Clippers alley-hoop dunker DeAndre Jordan. The threesome off Smith, Shumpert, and Thompson would be better for the Clippers in rebuilding its team too, thus the trade between these four players involving the Cavaliers and the Clippers would be a win-win solution for the rebuilding of the two teams.

Jose Calderon, an old but good point guard together with the former NBA Most Valuable Player Awardee but injury prone point guard Derek Rose and Kyle Korver may be a good offer for the Atlanta Hawks' Kent Bazemore for the Cavaliers to have a sharpshooter from the three-point range. Rose and Calderon are no longer indispensable for the Cavaliers since the same has already enough of Lebron James and Isaiah Thomas to run the point guard position.

As far as I see it, the Cavaliers are performing good in the offense department but lack the strong defense that it needs to stifle the offense of the opponent, this fact can be gleaned in its home lost the game to the Oklahoma City Thunders whom the Cavaliers permitted to score 148 points. Defense is the best offense as they say it, hence the problem of the Cavaliers with regard to defense must be solved and their aging roster should be refreshed for them to go back to a title contention by next year.

The Cleveland Cavaliers may not land in the finals this season, but the Cavaliers front desk can remedy their losing skid by focusing on rebuilding their team for them to amass championships in the near future. The Cavaliers must bear in mind that youth and defense are two of the essentials for a team to be of a championship caliber.