Veteran sports journalist Eddie Alinea, a former Manila Times newspaper boy carrier who wound up working for the revered English broadsheet in his twilight years, passed away last week. He was 86.

His eldest son, Wendell Rupert, announced the demise of his father, a former sports editor of the Philippines News Agency who had been bedridden for some time, on social media.

Respected for his work ethic and enterprising stories by his peers, among Alinea’s biggest coverages was the 1975 Ali-Frazier “Thrilla in Manila,” whose golden jubilee was celebrated recently at the Smart Araneta Coliseum with a boxing card organized by Pinoy ring icon Manny Pacquiao.

Born in Bulacan, he was closely identified with former Asian sprint queen Lydia de Vega and his outspoken father-coach, Francisco “Tatang” de Vega.

He covered Pacquiao in the latter’s early fights and wrote for the Manila Times while appearing on its sports program with former Sen. Nikki Coseteng.

He served as the first president of the PSC-POC Media Group, the group of scribes covering the Rizal Memorial beat.

Alinea’s remains lie in state at Room 202 of the St. Peter’s Memorial chapel in Quezon Avenue until tomorrow, Saturday, with a memorial Mass followed by cremation at 1 p.m. on Sunday.