Peping scores host’s ‘discrimination’

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Olympic Committee president Peping Cojuangco sees “discrimination” in the Incheon Asian Games Organizing Committee’s sudden action questioning the eligibility of Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player Andray Blatche and Fil-Ams Gabe Norwood and Jared Dillinger.

Cojuangco expressed belief there’s one member of the Iagoc who’s singling out Team Phl and working to declare Blatche, Norwood and Dillinger ineligible for the Sept. 19-Oct. 4 Asiad. He refused to name the official.

“Discrimination yan (This is a case of discrimination),” Cojuangco said yesterday during the POC-PSC radio program on DZSR.

A cloud of uncertainty hangs over the stint of naturalized player Blatche, Norwood and Dillinger after the Iagoc asked the trio for “proof of their residency” in compliance with the Olympic Council of Asia’s eligibility rules requiring a three-year residency.

Blatche has gotten his naturalization finalized only this year but the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) insisted that the residency requirement does not apply to him as the Phl is the first country he is playing for.

 “Even if the three-year residency rule of the Olympic charter, for the sake of argument, is applicable to basketball, it shall apply only to the player who opts to play for a second or additional country,” SBP executive director Sonny Barrios said.

Norwood and Dillinger, for their part, are being questioned because of passports that are less than three years old. SBP maintained that the duo have resided in the Phl for more than three years and presented copies of their old passports, which had expired in 2012 and 2009, respectively.

“There is a question on Blatche pero paano ‘yung naglaro na sa atin ng matagal (How about those who’ve been representing Phl for a long time already)? Sini-single out ang Pilipinas (They’re singling out the Phl) in this particular instance,” said Cojuangco.

“Norwood has been competing in many tournaments kaya bakit parang pinag-iinitan tayo nung particular person na ito (I can’t understand why this particular person is singling us out),” Cojuangco added.

The POC chief said he has sought an audience with OCA president Sheikh Fahad Al-Sabah to settle the issue.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman and Team Phl chef de mission Richie Garcia said he will appeal the Gilas stalwarts’ case during the delegation registration meeting on Sept. 11.

 “They are questioning the residency pero ipaglalaban namin ‘yan sa September 11 (but we’re gonna fight for that),” Garcia said.