A father's lament

It was former PBA coach Joel Banal on the telephone line yesterday and we talked about the current NCAA season where his son Gab is supposed to be playing for the Mapua Cardinals. I felt the pain in his heart as he spoke about Gab’s suspension with three other first-year Mapua cagers on a residency technicality.

“I’m praying that the NCAA Board lifts the suspension,” said Banal who coached the Cardinals to the NCAA title in 1991 and 1992. “A week before the opening, the Management Committee issued the suspension because the four players (Banal, Joseph Eriobu, Mark Brana and Jessie Saitanan) hadn’t finished their fourth semester of the Mapua schoolyear. It’s really a technicality issue. Unlike most other schools that employ a two-semester system, Mapua uses four semesters. While the schoolyear for most other schools ends in March, it finishes in June at Mapua. There is a one-year residency requirement for transferees so the Management Committee decided to suspend the four players because the Mapua schoolyear finishes at the end of this month or after the NCAA season opening.”

Banal said Mapua appealed the suspension but the Management Committee, chaired by Fr. Vic Calvo of Letran, stuck to its decision. The issue has now been elevated to the NCAA Board made up of presidents of the member schools.

Last Saturday, Mapua played without the four suspended rookies and lost a 65-64 decision to Jose Rizal University to open NCAA hostilities at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The tight contest featured eight ties and 11 lead changes. By the time Mapua plays its next game, its schoolyear would have ended with the completion of the fourth semester and the four rookies would have fulfilled the requirement of their one-year residency.

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“This is not a case of cheating,” said Banal. “This is not a case where a school is bringing in players who are overage or carrying falsified academic records. These four kids were caught in a situation where their schoolyear is a few months longer than others. But in the spirit of the one-year residency requirement, I don’t think there’s a question that they are compliant. The boys sat out a year to gain eligibility and now, they’re ready to play. As a father, I know what Gab is going through. I’m appealing to the NCAA Board and Management Committee to view this case in the spirit of sportsmanship and fair play.”

Banal’s son Gab, 21, finished high school at Xavier in 2008 and was recruited by La Salle coach Franz Pumaren to play on the national under-18 squad. He played two years with the Green Archers first under Pumaren then under Pumaren’s brother Dindo.

Banal said Mapua coach Chito Victolero sought his permission to recruit his son from La Salle. “The decision was Gab’s to make,” said Banal. “I told Chito to go ahead and talk to Gab. It wasn’t a bitter parting of ways with La Salle. Gab spoke to (De La Salle University Vice Chancellor) Br. Bernie (Oca) who didn’t stand in the way of my son’s development as a player. It’s worked out well at Mapua. Chito is happy with Gab’s progress and Gab is happy with Chito’s system.”

Banal said an NCAA player has seven years within which to play in the seniors from his high school graduation. “With his one-year residency, Gab has three seasons to play for Mapua, including this season,” said Banal. “If he had played three years at La Salle, it wouldn’t have made sense to transfer to Mapua. But if Gab is suspended this season, it will be like serving a two-year residency only because of a technicality involving Mapua’s four-semester system.”

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Banal’s son is enrolled in an Information Technology course at Mapua. “Gab wants to finish at Mapua and some of his units at La Salle were credited but he might just go back to La Salle after graduating at Mapua to get a second degree,” said Banal who coached Ateneo to a UAAP title and Talk ‘N’ Text to a PBA crown. “Gab’s a good kid, very disciplined. I know he’ll be a fine role model in the NCAA.”

Mapua has a rich basketball tradition dating back to the celebrated years of Charlie Badion, Alvin Patrimonio, Atoy Co, Freddie Hubalde and son Paolo, Junel Baculi, Leo Isaac, Bong Ramos, Benny Cheng, Eric and Eugene Leano, Rudy Kutch, Romy Mamaril, Kevin Ramas, Ricky Relosa and Vic Sanchez. It’s a tradition that Banal hopes his son will uphold.

“We realize there was basis not to allow the four boys to play last Saturday because strictly speaking, the Mapua schoolyear hadn’t finished but by the end of this month, the four-semester cycle will be over,” said Banal. “Suspending the boys for one entire season will mean a two-year residency and it’s a big blow to these kids. We hope the NCAA gives them a chance.”

Given that Mapua employs a four-semester system, the NCAA should consider the one-year residency requirement as having been complied with by the four rookies. This case isn’t about ineligible players trying to pull a fast one – it’s a test of the NCAA’s spirit of sportsmanship, understanding and friendly competition.