By MARK REY MONTEJO
The Rizal Memorial Complex has been home to countless historic sporting events for almost 100 years now, thus becoming one of Manila’s most storied landmarks.
It stood witness to some of the epic games during the golden days of NCAA and MICAA and even the early years of UAAP.
Great boxing matches were also held inside the historic venue – built to honor national hero Jose P. Rizal.
The staging of the WTA 125 Philippine Women’s Open at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center is the latest glory of the sports complex as it plays host to rising star Alex Eala’s homecoming. Eala was scheduled to trade strokes with Russian Alina Charaeva.
The anticipation of watching Eala play on home soil was evident as fans started lining up a couple of hours before her scheduled match. The day also featured matches of Filipina players Tenny Madis, Kaye Emana and Elizabeth Abarquez — who all earned wildcard berths — against their respective foreign counterparts.
One of the supporters was 68-year-old Ramon Gregorio, a retired seaman, who couldn’t help but recall his collegiate days watching games at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum, an arena which was renovated multiple times and momentarily transformed into a fan-zone area.
“Dati lagi akong nanonood dito, nawala nalang kasi nagta-trabaho ako. Ang laki din ng nagbago pati ‘yong mga kalsada dyan… hindi lang 50 percent, 99.9 percent [‘yong pinagbago],” said Gregorio.
“Maganda, malaking improvement, pati narin sa ekonomiya natin, kasi mga taga-ibang bansa andyan naglalaro [sa WTA event], kaya tignan mo mga tao nagkakagulo” he added.
Watching Eala live was a big deal for Gregorio as the last time he became a spectator was 40 years ago in a basketball game he now hardly remembered.
“Hindi ko na matandaan, mga 70s ganun,” Gregorio continued.
Gregorio admitted the area has changed dramatically, but the same familiar feeling still comes back whenever he watches sporting events there, as well as the challenge.
“Oo syempre ganyan din [pahirapan kumuha ng tickets],” he quipped.
The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) poured all its efforts, with the help of other agencies, and Philippine Tennis Association (PHILTA), to further improve various structures around the complex. The thorough-way en route and around the tennis courts were cleared to ensure a smooth flow within the location.
However, traffic was expected to be heavy, as usual, along Adriatico and P. Ocampo streets later in the evening. Commuters, though, had a sigh of relief with the nearby LRT Vito Cruz station providing easy access to the venue.
