It’s a new year and sad to say, there’s nothing to be happy about it in terms of sports organizations here other than a few. The Azkals and their continued rise through the Asian football picture, our boxers sans Pacman’s decking, and a slew of other sports. However, our beloved sport is suffering, as it has since 1998’s crushing defeat to South Korea’s Hail Mary corner three.
We have been on downgrade mode ever since. And no, I’m not counting that 2000-something win in the SEA Games. Heck, we can rule those guys in our sleep even as they have improved over the years.
Gilas asketball ring a bell?
It does?
How about Ramon Ang’s vendetta against SBP chair Manny Pangilinan, bringing business politics into the basketball foray?
No? Well, it’s one of my biggest frustrations so far. And I’m not alone. Every Pinoy basketball blogger or observer is versed very well in this insipid silent war the San Miguel Corporation is waging against Pangilinan.
Sure, the PBA is a business, we all know that, and guarding your players from harm is the general interest. But holding them out of national duty and claiming they are discerning whether to join or not is completely bogus. When we talk about national basketball, no business is involved besides the sponsoring, label to be printed on the jersey, funding and all that.
MVP dropped the hat on that team. He funds it. But that doesn’t mean he owns it. The basketball arm that he chairs? Well, jolly good, at least he’s showing support to the athletes and not holding back, unlike you Mr. Ang. Shame on you. And come to think of it, the Chairman emeritus Danding is cousins or at least a relative, not that I care pretty much, of POC president Peping. You would think he would at least drop a dime or two to show his support for our athletes.
But that’s wishful thinking.
See, Arwind Santos does not need time to decide whether he will join the GILAS team or not. At a drop of a hat, he would be more than willing to join unless he knows it is beyond his abilities.
Marc Pingris doesn’t need to discern. Sakuragi, being the firebrand that he is, would be begging to join, not acting like a diva.
Or James Yap, the man with a million moves as Mico Halili puts it, though I’m not inclined to believe, mulling whether to grab a Gilas jersey or just rot in his couch watching a tortous Gilas game against an Asian power where he can surely make a difference than what the current crop of gunslingers offer? Same goes for former stalwarts Marcio Lassiter and Chris Lutz, arguably the best pair of wings we’ve had since the glory days of Philippine basketball in the Jaworski era.
How about Junemar Fajardo? He would be simmering trying to go against the Haddadis, the Wangs, the Yis of the Asian circuit in trying to prove the Kraken is no mere myth. Right now, to be honest, and Ateneo fan aside, Junemar is the better big, international game-wise compared to Greg Slaughter. Dude receives punishment and dishes it out three times as he plays volleyball with the backboard battling for rebounds, something G20 isn’t known for.
They wouldn’t stand for it.
And how Ramon Ang stands it for business’ sake?
Disgusting.
Don’t you realize that you can still do the business and outsmart Pangilinan in allowing them to don the jersey? Think. You are a shrewd businessman.
Sponsor the entire team. Powerade did it once. You can do it too.
Smart-Gilas San Miguel Pilipinas.
How does that sound, for posterity’s sake?
It has MVP, Ramon Ang, and a christian vibe to it, something even the hardline bishops of CBCP would go for and say they will be the champions of the Anti-RH movement. Ooops, that’s a little farfetched, but hey, that’s exactly it.
Smart-GILAS San Miguel Pilipinas.
A bit wordy, but for the sake of having the top guns in there, I’m all for it.
Send your hatemails to garcia_pio14@hotmail.com or tweet me @PioStark