WNCAA dispels doubts

A crease in the negotiations for the AYN Sports Management Group to handle the affairs of the Women’s National Collegiate Athletic Association (WNCAA) this year has led to an amicable parting of ways.

But despite the split, the WNCAA is sure to launch its 33rd season this Saturday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig. WNCAA president Vivian Manila confirmed the opening to The STAR in a phone call yesterday. Ms. Manila, the Dean of Student Affairs at St. Scholastica’s College, is on her fifth year as WNCAA head.

AYN chief executive officer and former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) coach Chito Narvasa explained that an unfortunate misunderstanding broke up the talks.

Ms. Manila said with AYN’s withdrawal, the WNCAA Executive Board will manage the league on its own this year. The marketing function will be handled by Tactical Experts whose head is Andre Rodriguez, an Atenean like Narvasa. Ms. Manila added that the WNCAA will reopen talks with AYN in November to manage the league next season.

To set the record straight, Ms. Manila stressed that AYN will not be involved in marketing the WNCAA this season (that involves the solicitation of sponsors and creation of media values) and that AYN had not been signed to a three-year contract. She added that before the talks with AYN, the WNCAA had already conducted regional competitions and sent athletes to international tournaments.

Narvasa described the WNCAA as the country’s premier amateur women’s league. Its growth prospects are almost unlimited, he added. The WNCAA is composed of 15 private schools from the National Capital Region and 23 private schools from the provinces. It is made up of female athletes from the grade school, high school, and college levels with ages from 9 to 21 years old. Over 3,000 students participate in the WNCAA’s calendar of events which are basketball, volleyball, swimming, athletics, badminton, tennis, taekwondo, table tennis, chess, wall climbing, futsal, billiards and cheerleading.

The WNCAA initially offered a management contract to IMG (International Management Group). But after six months of trying to pull in sponsors, IMG gave up. That opened the door for Narvasa’s team to step in–five weeks before the launch.

Narvasa’s proposal stipulated a 70-30 sharing of profits after the WNCAA recovered operating costs. "Should the costs not be covered, AYN was not going to get paid at all," pointed out Narvasa. Whatever remained in the pot after operating costs would be split with AYN taking a 70 percent share.

Narvasa said he realized AYN would absorb a hefty loss in the first year. That’s why he negotiated for a three-year deal so that AYN could later reap the dividends of its early sacrifice. "We saw the WNCAA’s potential so we thought of it as an investment," said Narvasa. "Besides, we wanted to help out. We understand the WNCAA’s vision and we appreciate Ms. Manila’s efforts in taking the league to the next level. With Ms. Manila and the WNCAA Board, the league is in good hands."

Somehow, Narvasa’s formula didn’t come across to the Board as conceived. "What the Board understood was that whatever money the WNCAA would get, AYN would receive 70 percent of that, no matter who brought it in," said Narvasa. "Obviously, that was an onerous proposal." The Board then thumbed down AYN’s proposal, much to Narvasa’s dismay.

After clarifying the AYN’s original proposal with Ms. Manila, Narvasa said she asked to reopen discussions. But it was too late for AYN to regroup. AYN had already accepted other assignments and committed its manpower to the projects. Narvasa said if he only could, he would’ve plunged back into WNCAA waters because of his respect for Ms. Manila. Unfortunately, circumstances restrained Narvasa from reopening the talks for an engagement this year. Perhaps, for next year, he said wistfully.

Dispelling all doubts, the WNCAA inaugurates its 33rd season with a bang this Saturday.

Postscript. The Valle Verde Country Club’s ongoing "6-in-1" tennis festival is drawing raves for its unique format in promoting the sport as a social and family event. Rey Orsolino and Luis Veloso report that about 160 players from 15 clubs are participating in the four-week meet which ends Aug. 10. There are six different competition levels to accommodate serious players, former national standouts, weekend enthusiasts, and newcomers still wet behind the ears. The idea is to rediscover how much fun tennis is–as a competitive sport and as a sport that can be enjoyed with friends, business associates, and other members of the family. Last year, the Country Club hosted an interclub "team" event that brought in collegiate players, professionals, and entrepreneurs. A former Davis Cupper said the games were colorful and festive–similar to a basketball game. The success of last year’s effort led the Country Club to try a bigger concept–the "6-in-1" format– with support from Wilson Sports. "We think that if corporate sponsors see a lot of interest in tennis, they will give more to its development," said Orsolino. "This is one sport we can compete in. In fact, we were one of the best in Asia in the 1970s. Hopefully, our small effort will help."