Winning at all costs

When my brothers and I played for the La Salle basketball team some 40 years ago, I remember how important it was for us to play hard and play well. Though we did not win numerous championships, I look back and can say that our head master and officials had their priorities right.

At that time, from the way we were motivated to how we were handled, though unspoken, it was clear to us what was of utmost importance.

The UAAP season has just ended and with the unfortunate incident between the two finalists upon its shoulders, both teams and all of us — Archers, Tamaraws, spectators, students, parents, players, school officials, coaches, their families and managers — have been affected by this and thus are faced with the question:

Where do we stand on this and what are we to do once we come up with our own personal answers?

Many an athlete will know that playing a sport of any kind will bring out the best and the worst in any individual. As the tension rises, he may "control" what he shows to his opponent or general public — both the good and bad feelings that are either festering to make him bitter or empowering him to try harder the next time around.

I have always believed that sports is great for it has this unique capacity to do both and it is up to the player which he chooses between the two.

In looking at how La Salle has handled its athletic program — basketball in particular, one cannot but find part of the answer as to why such an incident took place in the top level of its management.

Theirs is a "Win At All Costs" motto. This is made evident from how its basketball players are recruited or chosen to how they are treated by the school once they make it to the team. Being a true La Sallite myself, it pains me to see what my alma mater has developed into.

It frightens me that, a school known to educate the country’s future leaders has developed an attitude such as this which is passed down to its players, students and all who watch the UAAP games.

I have tried in my personal capacity to question this attitude that the school officials have condoned and their answer to me confirmed my deepest fear. Yes, they are indeed motivated to "win at all costs" and hold some of their players to contracts even after they have graduated from the school.

They have provided the perfect breeding ground for such an incident that they are so embarrassed and ashamed of, to take place. And by just watching the games, I realized that I too am adding to this unhealthy environment.

Call it crazy but I am actually grateful for this very unfortunate incident that was witnessed by the entire nation — not only during the game itself but in the news the following day and even on the front page of this newspaper. I see it as a wake-up call for all of us and all teams to take a step back and see the ugliness that we have brought into the wonderful world of sports and maybe our everyday lives as well.

It mirrored what we are capable of doing — not only in moments of tension but rather when our motivations are misguided and twisted.

In a sense, the characters in this incident were the sacrificial lambs that showed how way off tangent the participating schools and perhaps the UAAP may be from its vision. Their actions are products that such a culture has bred.

Incidentally, in my opinion the weight of the punishment given the individual far outweighed the crime committed.

To be banned for life from all UAAP games not limited to basketball alone gives the impression that the Board does not see the possibility of change in the individual happening within his lifetime.

Could this not be misinterpreted as reflecting a tinge of envy on the part of the UAAP Board rather than it attempting to reconcile all those involved which is their role?

As I watched the games, I asked myself if the participating school officials realize that it is from this league where future PBA players are to come? And does the UAAP Board take this into consideration at all? The PBA is where a big percentage of the country’s population watches, admires and aspires to be a part of. The standards the UAAP set must be in accordance with having this in mind in order to make a constructive contribution to the PBA league.

To Win At All Costs — the gravity of these words are far greater than they actually seem. An environment where this prevails in any given situation and most especially in a sport situation, totally incapacitates a player from becoming a good sport.

It erases one of the most important values — unity — sports can bring to any individual player or team member regardless of age, social standing or religion. It separates him from others who enjoy, play and watch the game he truly loves. It destroys what was originally present in him at the beginning.

For this is what one of the greatest things sports has really set out to accomplish and thankfully what my superiors in the past tried to instill in the school’s players:

To unite in friendship and goodwill all who share in the enjoyment and love of the game.

I believe that we can still make this happen. We could begin by trying to remember the values held 40 years ago.