BCAP bares its fangs

Yesterday, the Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines’ board of directors faced the sports media for the first time, putting up a unified front in the face of a situation wherein it felt it needed to make a stronger stand against the hiring of foreign coaches in the Philippines.

"We are just hoping to follow what the law says," says BCAP president Chito Narvasa. "The Department of Labor decision is not just an opinion, as what Talk ‘N Text may have said. In fact, even when Tim Cone was originally not allowed to coach in 1991, BCAP precisely wanted a landmark decision on the matter. The decision actually came out a year after."

"I’m in a bit of an awkward situation here, telling another American not to coach in the Philippines," adds Sta. Lucia head coach Norman Black. "I played here for nine years, and I did well as a player, I became popular as a player. But no matter how well I did or how popular I was as a player, if I did not follow the legal procedures in becoming a permanent resident, I still wouldn’t be allowed to coach here."

Last Tuesday, Talk ‘N Text team manager Frankie Lim said that they did offer the job to Filipino coaches, citing Shell’s Perry Ronquillo.

"I turned down the job, for different reasons," Ronquillo told the media. "But I feel they have not exhausted their options in looking for a good Filipino coach. I rose up from the ranks. There are many coaches in the MBA and PBL who can coach in the PBA. Just give them the break."

On the argument that a foreign coach would bring in new technology, some BCAP directors begged to differ.

"Iisa lang naman ang basketbol, e," argues Sta. Lucia consultant Alfrancis Chua. "Basketball is the same everywhere. The same drills, the same offense, the same defense. The only difference is in how you motivate the players."

"We are not just protecting Filipino coaches, we are defending everybody’s rights," declares Batang Red Bull Thunder head coach Yeng Guiao. "It’s not only coaches we are protecting. What if, one day, your boss says, "I’m hiring a foreigner to replace you," only because he believes they’re taller or better for whatever reason. You will then tell them that it is illegal, and you will actually cite our case."

"Let’s just keep this a legal matter," Black chimes in. "It’s nothing personal. I don’ know Bill Bayno. I’ve heard good things about him. But this is about following the law of the land. And my advice is, if you aren’t following the laws of the Philippines, then you’re asking for trouble."

In the DOLE decision, coaching is compared to teaching, and is considered a profession wherein Filipinos are competent. That is why Ron Jacobs’ original permit to coach was withdrawn, because DOLE found out that the permit was given without any sufficient research done to prove that there were no competent Filipinos to do the job.

"If, for example, they were to hire a foreign coach for the national team, I think that would be different," Guiao continues. "It would be a one-year or two-year contract, and he wouldn’t be depriving a Filipino of a job. That’s why we didn’t say anything when they hired Ron Jacobs. We just felt it wasn’t nice, but we didn’t make any statement."

But Narvasa disagrees.

"If it were a developmental sport, that would be different. If they get a foreign coach for boxing, tennis or other sports that aren’t well established yet, that would be okay. There would be a transfer of information. But basketball is a very popular sport here. The PBA has been around for over 25 years, and because of the PBA, there is the MBA and PBL. There are many coaches who are competent enough to do the job."

BCAP has agreed that they will do what they can to avoid going to court, despite reports that Bayno has been given the necessary permits to coach by the Bureau of Immigration and Department of Labor.

"Why can’t they follow the San Miguel model?" Ronquillo asks. "Ron Jacobs is a consultant, that’s why Jong Uichico has been able to prove that he can win six championships and earn the right to coach the national team now. It was successful with San Miguel, it was successful with Ginebra."

Black and Guiao lasted six and five months, respectively, with the Mobiline-Talk ’N Text franchise, then went on to win championships after severing ties with the team.

"When we hire a project player, we don’t expect him to make an impact right away, but after two or three years," Chua elaborates. "We give him time to develop. But we treat coaches differently. Even in other jobs, if you replace your boss every year and have to have a new system, then you won’t get results right away."

"The problem is that we do not invest in coaches the way we invest in players," Narvasa concludes. "We’re impatient that way. Look at Sta. Lucia. They waited nine years to win a championship. Alaska was the same way. They invested in their system, took their losses, then started winning championships. It’s not instant."

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Watch this week’s episode of The Basketball Show (Sunday, 2-3 p.m. on RPN 9, for more on this and the latest issues in Philippine basketball.