IT’S truly a refreshing sight to see Enriquez not delivering the grim news on television, and instead simply watching La Salle games from courtside and having a great time.

"Fan ako today," said the face of GMA’s early-evening news. "While the UAAP is going on I take every opportunity to watch DLSU games. Kahit hindi weekend, basta makakatakas manonood talaga ako."

The veteran broadcaster is chairman of the board of trustees of La Salle Greenhills and likewise sits on the board of De La Salle College of St. Benilde.

"I support DLSU by serving not just in sports but in every way that I can,” he said. “That's what animo means.

"It's my passion to support my alma mater."

And what does Mr. Imbestigador have to say about La Salle’s loss to Far Eastern University on Sunday, the Archers’ first this season?

"La Salle is strongest when it's the weakest,” he told Spin.ph. “We derive strength from being the underdog."

FORMER Far Eastern University coach Glenn Capacio flashed a relaxed smile as he sat at ringside – a world removed from the stressed-out days when he was forced to quit the Tamaraws bench due to health problems.

The former Purefoods star still coaches these days in the Asean Basketball League with the AirAsia Philippine Patriots, but there’s no doubt that his heart and mind is still with his beloved Tamaraws.

“I’m still their No. 1 fan,” said Capacio, who also played for the Tamaraws during his college career.

As a coach, Capacio led the Tamaraws to a runner-up finish two years ago and he said he has every reason to believe that the team can go all the way this season.

"Proud ako syempre ang laki ng improvement nila,” he said. “"Mas mataas and percentage nila makapasok sa finals.

“Samahan lang ng konting suwerte, [finals na ‘yan]."

Easily attracting his share of attention at ringside was Vice Ganda, the television host/ comedian who has been very vocal in support of the Far Eastern University Tamaraws.

"I love FEU. I'm super happy to support FEU," Vice told Spin.ph as he watched the games in the company of friend Ethel Booba, who, by the way, had been previously linked to pro player Alex Crisano.

"Way ko din ito para mag-unwind sa trabaho," Vice added.

An alumnus of the Morayta-based school, Vice was very animated in cheering for the Tamaraws and joined the rest of the FEU supporters in singing the school hymn at the end of the Tamaraws’ 48-46 win over La Salle.

"Super happy ako panalo FEU," Vice said.

Vice Ganda’s support of the Tamaraws has inevitably become fodder for gossip both in showbiz and basketball circles, and his mood changed a bit when asked if he was rooting for any player in particular.

He was rooting for the whole team, Vice stressed in parting.

IF you want to get a glimpse of ‘The Boss’ these days, you’d most likely see him watching La Salle’s Archers in practice and in games.

That is understandable, considering San Miguel Corp. chairman Danding Cojuangco is back in his old role as patron of La Salle’s basketball program – a position he first played in the eighties before his focus shifted to San Miguel’s teams in the pro league.

It’s no surprise that ‘The Boss’ is happy to be back in the college basketball scene.

“I really enjoy the non-professionals because this is the molding of the character of these young men. This will be the future [of the] PBA,” he told the Inquirer. “It’s exciting, you’re part of building them for the future.”

On Sunday, he made a rare public appearance at the MOA Arena, only to see his Archers lose to the FEU’s Tamaraws. But he can’t be too disappointed, having previously said that he is in this for the long term and doesn’t expect a swift turnaround for the team.

“If we do a little better than last year, we’ll be very happy. We should be very happy,” he said. “I think it’s a very realistic goal, it’s not a modest goal.”

Incidentally, the new role has put ‘The Boss’ in a collision course with another famous sportsman in top Ateneo backer Manny Pangilinan, but that’s for another story.