Bong Coo questions RP stint of Granger

Bowling legend Bong Coo lashed out at the Philippine Bowling Congress leadership for allowing American coach Purvis Granger to play as member of the national team in several international tournaments.

For one, Coo, one of only two Filipinos to have been inducted in the World Bowling Hall of Fame, argued that Granger’s inclusion in the national team deprives a Filipino player of a much-sought after slot to represent the country in international tournaments.

Second, the 53-year-old Coo added, Purvis, who just topped the recent Aviva Asian Bowling Tour’s Grand Slam Finals in Singapore, violates his working visa issued him as a foreign coach hired by the Philippine Sports Commission.

"As a foreign coach under the PSC payroll, Granger should be working at the PSC Bowling Center training members of the national teams as well as teach up-and-coming Filipino coaches the latest techniques of the game under the transfer of technology policy of the PSC, a condition provided in his contract," Coo, who has gifted the country a total 76 international medals, including 37 gold medals, stressed.

"He, however, seldom goes to the PSC Bowling Center to perform the job he was hired for and instead works in another bowling center receiving separate salary as an instructor," the former World Cup and World FIQ champion added.

Granger receives $2,000 (roughly P100,000) salary from the PSC and is entitled to a P30,000 housing allowance, a privilege not enjoyed by Filipino coaches, who only receive P15,000 flat a month.

"This situation, tolerated by no less than the PBC is, to say the least, anomalous and should be investigated," Coo, a candidate for a Senate seat in the coming May elections, said.

"If this is not a clear discrimination against the Filipino coaches, I don’t know what is," Coo added, turning her ire on PBC and FIQ president Steve Hontiveros, who recently justified Granger’s carrying the country’s colors by saying that, on the contrary, the American mentor has been helping Filipino bowlers in international events he had participated in.

"Sabi ni Steve, inalalayan daw ni Purvis si Biboy (Rivera) in reaching the semifinals of the last Aviva Grand Slam Finals. What help did Purvis do when he was the one who eliminated Biboy from the championship play?" she asked.

"Okay, it was the score that decided their semifinal match, fine. But how can anyone expect Biboy to play good when he was facing his very own coach? Kung hindi si Purvis ang nakaharap niya, baka siya ang pumasok sa finals at nanalo ng cash prize," Coo argued.

"Sa totoo lang, I am very much against the practice of hiring foreign coaches, especially in sports where Filipinos are at par or even better than their foreign counterparts. Tingnan na lang natin si Lydia de Vega (of athletics). Iniwan niya ang politics para mag-coach, pero hindi mabigyan ng pagkakataon at kailangan pang magpunta ng Singapore para magturo sa mga makakalaban natin," Coo bewailed.

"In bowling, like in many sports, we have plenty of coaches na mas magagaling kesa foreigners. Mga champion hindi lamang sa Asian level but in the world as well. Dapat siguro, tingnan ang klase ng sports bago mag-hire ng foreign coaches na hindi naman ginagawa ang trabaho nila kundi kumakalaban pa sa mga Pilipino na dapat nilang tulungan," Coo, who is now in the business of manufacturing bowling apparels and equipment, suggested.