Shifting focus
The crash of the Gilas prompted Senate Resolution No. 83 that was jointly filed by 5 senators “in aid of legislation” in finding ways to help the men’s national basketball team. Senators Mark Villar, Francis Tolentino, Joel Villanueva, Alan Peter Cayetano and Bong Go wanted a senate probe to review policies and other related guidelines to achieve the most ideal results in future international tournaments.
A paragraph in the resolution said, “There is a pressing need to revisit sport-relevant laws and policies which are aimed to support Philippine national teams participating in international competitions and review any related measures that will ensure the competitiveness and welfare of the Filipino athlete.”
The pressing need now is the composition and appointment of competent heads, training and coaching staffs of different national sporting agencies. There is also a need to do away with biases because in most cases, whoever kisses butt passes the cut and when crap hits the fan, the favored son gets a pat on the back and somebody else gets a big, loud slap.
Talking about competitiveness in international competition, every NSA should take the cue from the Philippine Football Federation with their handling of the women’s national football team who are FIFA World Cup bound. No need to elaborate.
A few under-the-radar national teams, without so much fanfare and wanting in corporate sponsors, did well internationally. Most recently, the four-gold medal haul of the PADS Adaptive Dragonboat Racing Team made the country’s red, white and blue fly high and proud at the 13th IDBF Club Crew Championships in Sarasota, Florida.
Like in their successes in previous international competitions, this team survived thru the generosity of the Filipino communities that shared their homes and provided meals to these differently abled but triumphant athletes.
The same cannot be said of the team that invited the senate probe. Pampered is an understatement of the year for the Gilas. The balance of support and sponsorship is tilting heavily towards the glamor boys of basketball, whom I would assume are still in their continuing learning process and experience. And because the sport has a cult following, the senate starting five drafted a play, “in aid of legislation”.
I hope this probe will not only focus on basketball but also on other NSAs whose heads are diligently bickering, with their athletes taking the backseat. At least this inquiry makes a lot of sense than enacting a law on ghosting. Oh, my ghost.
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