Patrick’s nomination

I got a surprise phone call yesterday from my friend Andrew Teh. Andrew told me the good news about our common friend, Patrick ‘Pato’ Gregorio, who has reportedly been nominated to become the executive director of the Samahang Basketbol sa Pilipinas (SBP).

Although there is no formal nomination yet from Manuel V. Pangilinan (MVP), the chairman of SBP, Pato has reportedly already represented MVP in the opening of the Philippine Basketball League (PBL), the country’s premiere amateur cage body.

It has been a long time since I sat down with Pato for a cup of coffee, which was something we did quite often while he was in Cebu for the many meetings we attended together in the Cebu Visitors and Convention Bureau (CVCB) events and other gatherings.

If he indeed gets the position of SBP executive director, then I’d say MVP has made a very good choice.

I am not saying this because Pato is a good friend, but because I’ve worked with him in several sports projects and have seen how he gets things done. More importantly, I know his passion for the sport starting those days when their father would take him and his brothers Allan (now an assistant coach of Air 21) and Ryan (coach of Purefoods) to the PBA games on weekends.

Maybe this development in the SBP will get me interested in the state of Philippine basketball again. However, this does not also mean I won’t continue helping in my little way the many other sports that I am involved in.

This is all for the love of sports and to help ensure a better future for my children and the coming generations by helping set up the building blocks while I still can.

* * *

There are still many people who violate the NO SMOKING policy inside the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC).

I believe there is a law the specifically prohibits that, but as usual we got the laws, but not the people or maybe the guts to implement them.

Yesterday morning, an aging policeman who was waiting to take his physical fitness test (PFT) was busy puffing on a cigarette.

He was the only one among the many policemen there, who seemed unaware of the law? Maybe the management of the sports center can again start reminding the patrons and everyone else using the facility of the rules and regulations.

That’s one of the ways to take care of the facility that was built using millions of pesos of people’s money.

That smoking cop seemed to have struggled during the run since those who saw him smoking also noticed how he was just walking instead of running. I hope that drives the point.

* * *

I bet you must have heard of many political candidates talk about their sports programs with the campaign period almost reaching the halfway mark.

I’m sure they talk about sports as a means to combat drug abuse, but how would they do that? Are there real plans or just plain lip service?

Do they really understand what they are harping about or are they just using the pieces so stale that the moment they open their mouth it stinks?

Be careful of candidates who try to sell themselves using sports. It will really show if they don’t know anything.

Don’t get carried away by the speeches look at their track record and use that as basis. Let’s all vote wisely!