UV wins hearts of newfound fans

Residents from the Gasa sa Gugma-Home for the Dying Destitutes cheer for the UV Green Lancers during their game against USC last Thursday at the Cebu Coliseum.
contributed photo

A DIFFERENT troop of cheerleaders came to support the University of the Visayas Green Lancers in their game against the University of San Carlos Warriors on Thursday night – one that in spite of their advanced age, still gave their all to inspire their hardcourt heroes.
A group of 30 residents from Gasa sa Gugma-Home for the Dying Destitutes, a home for the aged, dying and abandoned, made the courageous trip to the Cebu Coliseum to give their support to the Green Lancers, who just days before, paid them a visit to cheer them up and lift their spirits.
According to UV assistant coach, Van Halen Parmis, he and the rest of the squad led by head coach Gary Cortes, went to the said institute last week where they spent time with the residents, chitchatting and eating with them. The whole team also serenaded the group with several songs.
Inspired by the visit, several of the aged  requested they watch an actual game of the Green Lancers and finally were able to do so when the latter took on the Warriors on Thursday. In fact, even though some of the residents were  wheelchair-bound, that did not deter them from getting on the bus and occupying  front-row seats to view the action.
“It was a very close game. I was actually scared that the action might have been too much for them,” shared Parmis in Cebu’s native tongue.
“It was a really big night for them. You have to understand that these people spend all their days at that place. The plan was to leave the place at 6 p.m. and start heading out to the Cebu Coliseum. But when we got there at 5 p.m., all of them were all set to go!”
Though the Lancers fell, 75-79, they still came out winners in the eyes of their newfound fans. “When they were already getting on the bus, they told the Lancers that they were still champions in their hearts.”