Unforgiveable faux pas

By Jesus A. Garcia, Jr.

I’M sure you were just as dismayed as I was last Tuesday evening when the much-publicized NBA Stars versus Gilas Pilipinas tune-up game that we had looked forward to did not materialize due to lapses in coordination between the organizers and NBA officials. The NBA stars led by this year’s NBA’s MVP finals Kawhi Leonard, was supposed to have two scrimmages on July 22 and 23 against our Nationals but in the last hour, the event was called off.  Reports have it that the agency assigned by sports godfather Manny V. Pangilinan (MVP) to make the arrangements failed to secure a the needed NBA clearance.

So instead of a game, fans watched a drill for the two teams that drew boos and catcalls from the paying public. Consequently, the Wednesday match was eventually canceled for obvious reasons. Embarrassed and humbled, a diffident MVP apologized to the basketball fans and promised the ticket holders that their money will be refunded in full.

While he assumed command responsibility as the chairman of the sponsoring PLDT and president of the national basketball governing body Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), to me he’s not really to be blamed fully but the sponsoring agency that worked out the plans. The agency should have wrapped up the deal with a confirmation from NBA before allowing the American basketball stars to fly to Manila. But it didn’t. Nauna and kalesa kaysa kabayo!

The American dribblers are professionals and are under the contract with NBA. They knew that they faced sanctions if they played with Gilas without NBA’s go-signal.  Any NBA player who wants to play some exhibition games any place in the world is required to first secure a clearance from NBA, even for a charity event, and that’s the job of the organizing agency. I believe there were some conditions that the organizing agency failed to comply with.  No wonder, superstars Lebron James, Paul Pierce, Paul George and Blake Griffin considered as the highest paid player in NBA today backed out from flying over probably because of the risks involved.

The proceeds of the event dubbed as “The Last Home Stand” was for a good cause because it’s for the typhoon victims affected by Yolanda and by Glenda.  And the games were also supposed to be tune-up games for the Gilas in preparation for this year’s FIBA World Cup slated in Spain on August 30-September 14.

This is one fiasco that basketball fans won’t easily forget as well as the NBA players that came to play. The faux pas might cause a drop in gate attendance in the coming PBA games. It’s really a big letdown for many basketball fans, including this writer. They say we learn from our mistakes, so I’m sure the promoters learned theirs the hard way. Yes, the spectators’ money will be refunded but how will their frustrations, wasted time and efforts be repaid?

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: And Hezekiah said, “Remember now, O Lord, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what is good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. And the word of the Lord came to Isaiah, saying, “Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will add to your days fifteen years.” ISAIAH 38: 3-5
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