PABA polls stalled for lack of POC rep

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Amateur Baseball Association official Ely Baradas called on the Philippine Olympic Committee to send a representative to the PABA election in the wake of a complaint on the selection of national team to the Asia Single A tournament at Rizal Memorial.

A parent complained about the alleged absence of a legitimate tryout for the Phl representative to the Aug. 27-31 tourney sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation (IBF), blaming baseball officials headed by Marty Eizmendi.

“Walang legal na presidente ang Paba na talagang na-elect na bago dahil nga hindi nagpapadala ng representative ang POC sa eleksyon na pinapatawag namin (The Paba has no legal president since there was no POC representative when the election was held),” Baradas said.

Per Paba constitution, Baradas said he as EVP is the next in line for the post vacated by the late Hector Navasero. In compliance with POC requirement, he and chairman Manny Angeles had opened the association’s membership to all stakeholders and called for elections twice but didn’t get the recognition from the Olympic body. Eizmendi was installed by another faction in the association.

“It’s high time na sila (POC) ay magising at magpadala na ng representatives para kami magkaroon na ng eleksyon. Lahat candidates basta magpa-myembro lang sila. Pwede kaming magpatawag anytime (The POC should once and for all send representatives for us to hold the election. All members can run and we can call for an election anytime),” Baradas said.

He added that there would have been a legitimate tryout if the Single A tourney is being handled by his group.

“May mga regional members kami at kasama sila sa tryouts. Ang normal practice is mag-assign kami ng coach at magpapa-tryout nang marami (We have regional members and they are included in the tryouts. The normal practice is for us to assign a coach and hold as many tryouts as we could),” he said.