I came in during the thick of the pandemic when people were dying left and right.

It was a different time.

But I already knew the guys here. So, I felt at home immediately.

Six years later, the section’s still standing. A few left. The core stayed.

We used to be rivals. Now we know each other’s quirks. That helps.

Ivan Suing is our constant. He tracks Alex Eala, EJ Obiena, and football. And he’s the last look before we send the page. He misses a few but he remains reliable.

Mark has volleyball, the Philippine Basketball Association, Gilas. Rey has golf. Julius and I hold the fort. Since August 2020, it works. I still get to cover boxing.

The gig took me to Pacquiao in Vegas. World titles in Japan and the US Hanoi 2022. Even Pamplona, for the Running of the Bulls.

Ivan did Phnom Penh for the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games and Thailand for the Para Games. Mark went to Bangkok for the SEA Games. Julius did Hangzhou for the Asian Games in 2023.

No shakeup, no problem. The chemistry stays.

We just turned 26.

Sportswriters are different. Maybe it’s the bosses, we survived. Maybe it’s the job. Either way, we’re good company.

Here’s to 32 in 2032.

Unless AI beats us to it.

We’ll see.