Sportsmen who made it and failed at the polls

THE RECENT national elections once again saw some Cebuano sportsmen try their luck. Some made it, some didn’t.

Joining the winner’s circle was former PBA player Elmer “Boy” Cabahug, who earned a seat in the Mandaue City Council by getting the second highest votes at 67,279.

Cabahug, a former head coach of the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers and a deadly shooter in his PBA days, is set to have his second tour of duty at the city council after serving for one term and losing in his reelection bid.

Also emerging triumphant was Samsam Gullas, who was reelected as representative in the First District of Cebu.

Gullas, team manager of the UV Green Lancers, garnered 182,363 votes to beat Abe Canoy (91,251 votes) and Doc Mike Nuñez (6,584).
Samsam’s grandfather Eddie Gullas will be returning as mayor in Talisay City.

Gullas, a former Coach of the Year winner who steered the Green Lancers to the National Inter-Collegiate crown in 1957, got 58,086 votes to defeat former tormentor Johnny de los Reyes, who earned 22,855 votes.

Falling short in their bids in the political arena were former PBA player Bonel Balingit and multi-titled basketball coach Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba.

The six-foot-nine Balingit, who, at one point, was the most dominant big man in the PBA while playing for the Sunkist Orange Juicers, ran for councilor in the Cebu City South District but fell out of top eight with just 99,015 votes, good for 12th place.

Alcoseba, on the other hand, failed in his bid to become mayor of the City of Carcar after losing to incumbent mayor Nice Apura.

Alcoseba, architect of M. Lhuillier-Cebu Niños’ numerous titles and the man responsible for guiding the Southwestern University Cobras to championship finishes in the 2012 and 2014 seasons of the Cebu Schools Athletic Federation Inc., earned 19,991 votes, a far cry from Apura’s 33,372.