Expect blockbuster 2009

And we thought 2008 was hectic.

2009 is going to be another blockbuster for Philippine sports, both in terms of a loaded schedule of events and the usual backroom and boardroom maneuvering going on in several sports. Excluding unscheduled boxing world title fights, here are some of the highlights, in probable chronological order.

ABAP’s new moves. The new leadership of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines will be implementing its new programs and plans early in the coming year. Among those plans include a new attitude of unification, and a proposed nationwide search for talent including northern Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao, to broaden the talent base in time for the coming SEA Games.

NSA-POC leadership problems. Despite the Philippine Olympic Committee’s proclamations to the contrary, there is still no palpable move to resolve the leadership problems in key national sports associations. At least two disenfranchised groups in NSAs that voted for incumbent POC president Peping Cojuangco’s ticket are preparing documented evidence that their leaders were not eligible to vote at the time of the POC elections. What impact will that have on the current leadership?

PSC Housecleaning. The Philippine Sports Commission is going to start cracking the whip on NSAs that stubbornly refuse to liquidate government funds spent on past training, equipment and competition.

Two of those who have the largest unliquidated funds are among the most medal-rich sports. PSC chair Butch Ramirez has also warned recalcitrant NSAs against arbitrarily removing and adding athletes to their rosters. The government agency does not want to be dragged into internal politicking by funding athletes who are not qualified to represent the country, and sanctions against hard-headed NSA heads will be forthcoming.

FIBA-Asia qualifiers. There are no less than ten tournament that the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas is committed to sending teams to next year, be they the PBA men’s team, the collegiate men’s team, the new women’s team, and the new youth team. The competitions begin with the ninth SEABA Champions Cup in March. Teams, rosters and lineups are almost complete, save for the Youth team, which will have tryouts beginning Jan. 2.

NBA All-Star Weekend Slam Dunk Contest. After much mulling over, Orlando’s Dwight Howard declared that he will try to be super again and defend his All-Star Weekend Slam Dunk title in Phoenix.

Fans, however, are not too thrilled by having previous also-rans like former winner Nate Robinson of the Knicks and Rudy Gay of the Grizzlies. The fourth participant will be picked through a fans’ poll, and will either be Rudy Fernandez, Russell Westbrook or Joe Alexander. Two things going against next year’s event: Howard is the exception, as big guys don’t normally do so well, and no other superstars are joining.

Harbour Centre in the PBA. A lot of statements implying the possible departure of the Red Bull franchise have been in the papers, and even Air21 has been mentioned repeatedly. Harbour Centre would rather purchase a team that already has a solid core and can perform well immediately, but would they bite into a Red Bull franchise that has been decimated by one-sided trades? Would the Batang Pier be allowed to directly elevate or recruit their own players, as Purefoods first was back in 1988?

Manny Pacquiao vs Ricky Hatton. The first blockbuster of the Manny Pacquiao farewell tour. Hatton is tailor-made for the improved Pacman.

Hatton is a brawler who is just learning to box, and Pacquiao is already two steps ahead. Although no contract has been signed, the fight is already tentatively slated for May. Besides, the Pacquiao game plan is for Mayweather to wait, and probably look for some patsy for a tune-up fight first, unless Pretty Boy is confident enough he can beat Pacquiao coming straight out of another retirement.

NBA Finals: Celtics vs Lakers. Christmas Day was just a preview, and a big confidence-booster for the Los Angeles Lakers. The Celtics had been running roughshod over the league, tying the record for best start of a team with just two wins. Then they lost two in a row for the first time this season. The Lakers are deeper with the return of Andrew Bynum, and Phil Jackson is keeping them on their toes with the constant promise of shuffling the lineup. The Celtics, meanwhile, are starting to spread the minutes even better and are improving with the continued growth of Rajon Rondo. Unless other threats like New Orleans and Cleveland step into the picture, we could have a finals rematch.

Manny Pacquiao vs Floyd Mayweather Jr. This could be Pacquiao’s final appearance in the ring, and what a record-breaker it promises to be, especially if the four-time world champion beats Ricky Hatton.

Mayweather is everything Pacquiao has not seen recently, a black mirror-image of himself, but bigger. Either way, both fighters will be flashy, and bring out all the artillery in this chance to cement their place in history. Either Pacquiao goes out staining Mayweather’s immaculate record, or Mayweather adds the exclamation point of reaffirming he still is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

2009 Laos Southeast Asian Games. The proof of the pudding for the new POC leadership. Given the trimmed slate of sports, and the uncertainty of other events like basketball, it will be hard to project how well the country will do. Technically, the organizing committee is supposed to announce the full schedule twelve months before the games open, but that’s obviously not going to happen. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.