Letter from Anton

Far Eastern University (FEU) representative to the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Board and former UAAP president Anton Montinola sent in an intriguing letter to The STAR yesterday. It makes for good reading so I’m sharing Montinola’s thoughts for your analysis. If you’ve got some comments, let me know in writing. This could be the start of a fresh review of the UAAP’s perennial scalping problem.

Here’s Montinola’s letter, in full:

"I was pleasantly surprised to read your excellent Aug. 16th column. Had you conducted the same research one year ago, perhaps you would have been kinder to FEU regarding the alleged scalped tickets. Your column last year prompted a series of love letters between you and FEU president (and recently appointed Secretary of Education) Edilberto de Jesus. We were also seatmates on a flight from Bacolod to Manila where we exchanged ideas. I trust that, with your recent column, the issue has been settled. C’est la vie. Better late than never.

"The UAAP caters primarily to students and faculty of the eight participating universities. However, the games provide a venue for the alumni to cheer, reminisce, feel young again, and sometimes, behave foolishly and curse the enemy. The problem is how to fit everyone into approximately 20,000 seats. By the way, our second round schedule will feature more playing dates at Araneta Coliseum.

"Now to the scalpers. My Ateneo Economics professor taught me that trying to repeal the law of supply and demand is pointless. One should, instead, increase supply, redirect demand, or both.

"I will not comment on your article’s proposal because I do not speak for the Board. However, some suggestions, as follows:

"1. PRO-Student/Faculty. Limit access to ringside and lower box tickets to students/faculty of contending universities. Valid school IDs required (no ID, no entry). Upper box and bleachers for alumni and the general public. Bring your own binoculars. Or watch the games LIVE on Channel 23 at home or at your favorite sports bar.

"2. PRO-Alumni/Elitists. Do a reverse auction for ringside and lower box tickets. Start at P10,000/ticket. Publicize the topnotchers on camera. Invite the BIR to interview them at Araneta and the Opus Dei/CIPI (Corporate Investments of the Philippines Inc.) to solicit donations/investments from these big spenders. Just kidding.

"3. Build a bigger Araneta Coliseum. Yah, right.

"4. Sell ringside/lower box and upper box tickets via computerized lottery. Only bonafide students/faculty/alumni of contending schools may qualify for this lottery.

"5. Bid for the biggest block of uncommitted tickets. Guess which one. "By the way, the UAAP games are pretty exciting. The league must be doing something right, right?"

After receiving Montinola’s letter by fax, I texted him to ask if I could publish his letter. His reply: "K, TNX. HOPE IT DOESN’T START WORLD WAR III." I couldn’t assure Montinola it wouldn’t.

Postscript. Voltaire Castillo of [email protected] wrote: "Just wanna congratulate you for a good job on the Pacquiao-Julio fight. Pacquiao is a role-model for us. One thing more, during the fight, in-between rounds, I overheard Julio saying to his trainer, ‘he’ll be knocked out.’ Or something like that"…Erry Lagtapon of Bacolod City ([email protected]) said he’d like to see Paolo Mendoza play two-guard and Gherome Ejercito do the orchestrating. He added: "This is the same formula that worked for Noy Castillo at Purefoods. The league should mold this kind of talent for future international competitions. We need shooters who can create their shots to break the zone, just like coach Allan Caidic during the Jacobs era" …Rodel of Sydney, Australia ([email protected]) logged in: ‘It’s good to hear an Australian team (Melbourne Tigers) is planning to have an exhibition series against the RP Selecta team"…Maureen Ferrer and Ma. Carissa Sindiong are inviting readers to check out over 500 magazine titles, including Maxim, Stuff, Golf Digest, F1 Racing, and Car and Driver, for an unbelievable subscription deal. For details, call 647-4744 to 66 or visit the website www.emeraldheadway.com.