source: Waylon Galvez | mb.com.ph
Red Bull team manager Tony Chua was a few hundred meters from the safety of his home in a subdivision in Marikina City when floodwaters swept him to his death Saturday night, his driver and family members said on Monday.
Chua, well loved and well-liked in sports circles, had decided to walk the remaining 500 meters of road towards his home at Filinvest subdivision when he apparently underestimated the force of the raging waters that pulled him, his driver and his aide to the precipice of the road where briefly, they clung to a tree for dear life.
His driver, named Lemer, survived the floods but, Joenere Pedal, his aide, also died.
According to Lemer, Chua, who was 58, managed to hold on to a tree as water raged under their feet and body. The driver somehow sketchily recalled that Chua was hit by a piece of wood that was being carried by flood waters among several flotsam and jetsam in the area. The impact must have forced him to loosen his grip on the tree he was clinging on.
His body was found hours later in a morgue along with several other victims of the flood.
Chua’s remains lie in state at the Sanctuarium on Araneta Ave., Quezon City. Interment will be announced later.
He is survived by his wife Marissa, daughters Toni Rose, 26; Tonissa, 17; and Anissa, 8.
According to Chua’s eldest daughter Toni Rose, she wants to remember her father as someone who was fun to be around, someone who always made them smile. “There was never a dull moment whenever he’s around. He always made us laugh... smile.”
Chua’s wife said that Chua “loves the team (Barako Bull) so much.”
Toni Rose said that her father was on his way home to their Filinvest Village residence in Marikina City after spending the afternoon at the Barako Bull team’s headquarters located in Pasig City.
She said her father called at around 5 p.m. Saturday to tell them that he will walk the remaining distance from where their Starex van was stranded near Ligaya St. along Marcos Highway.
“Malapit na actually s’ya sa house eh,” Toni Rose said.
But the wait for him to reach home proved to be in vain. When Chua failed to tell his whereabouts many hours after, they decided to check the nearest morgue.
Toni Rose said she could not exactly tell how the end for her father came. It was Chua’s driver Lemer who tried to recall what happened that tragic afternoon.
Lemer told Chua’s family that they were confident of reaching home as many others were also braving the fierce current.
Among the first to arrive in the wake was PBA Commissioner Renauld “Sonny” Barrios.
PBA media bureau chief Willie Marcial said that a special tribute will be made for Chua before the Hall of Fame awards on October 9. Marcial said that the PBA Hall of Fame is actually a project of Chua. The PBA will also have a moment of silence when the league opens its 35th Season on October 11.
“Of course, he was well liked by everyone not only in basketball but the sports community,” former Red Bull mentor Joseller Guiao said.
Chua, who played high school and varsity football at Letran College, was with the Energy Food and Drink basketball team since its PBL days.
When Red Bull owned by George Chua joined the PBA, he was the team representative to the PBA board, a position he held at the time of his death.
He served as PBA chair during the 2006-07 season, succeeding Talk n Text's Ricky Vargas and preceded by Alaska's Joaqui Trillo.
After college, he turned to coaching and went on to become head coach of the RP ladies basketball team. He also became vice president of the Philippine Football Federation.
With him as PBA board member, Red Bull won three championships.
Meanwhile, Rain or Shine’s co-team owner Terry Que believed that had Chua followed his own advice, he probably would still be alive today.
Que said he had a long talk with Chua when typhoon “Ondoy” started to pound Metro Manila.
Chua, according to Que, told him: “Pare huwag ka ng lumabas ng bahay dahil delikado. Magkita na lang tayo sa Martes sa opis nyo, may pag-usapan tayong negosyo.”
Almost 24 hours after their phone conversation, Que learned the tragic death of his friend, whom he had shared happy moments during their days in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL).
“Napakasakit ang pagkawala ni Tony, he’s jolly person, we had so many happy moments,” said Que.
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