From bad to worst

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

 

I WROTE about the division in college caging in Dagupan City three weeks ago. Many basketball fanatics lamented the continued separation of the two groups, UCAAP and PRISAA, and had hoped that the two would patch their differences soon and unite, for the teams under one umbrella to play like it used to be. Indeed, there’s no substitute for that.

As an avid reader of the Good Book, Jesus Christ once said that any kingdom without unity or divided will not flourish and will fall.  This is what’s happening today in our Philippine sports, the very reason why we cannot improve. We’ve become so engrossed with sports politics that we are being beaten badly by city-states like Hong Kong and Singapore in the Olympics, and even the smallest tournament in the world, the SEA Games. What a shame.

Agawan sa puwesto at pataasan ng ihi ang umiiral palagi sa ating mga sports leaders. It’s our downfall and we are seeing the same situation in Pangasinan. Disunity and pride is killing basketball. Media colleague and my maestro in journalism Rhee was quick to say “aliwa” on hearing about the about the splitting of Dagupan City’s cage tournaments.

The UCAAP tourney this season is now at the homestretch with defending champions LNU Dukes topping the elimination round and scheduled to face second placer PhilCST Topnotch next week in the best-of-three championship series. But I got a disturbing call last Wednesday (Sept. 28). The caller (who spoke on condition of anonymity) said the championship match is now under jeopardy because the Calasiao-based Topnotch has decided to withdraw from the UCAAP four-squad tourney due to bad and biased officiating. The caller added that Topnotch is set to rejoin the 2016 PRISAA tilt together with AIE College and PIMSAT, the three mainstays of UCAAP group.  If this information is true, that makes PRISAA to have six teams in the collision and simple arithmetic says UCAAP will eventually only have three, meaning third placer AIE will replace Topnotch for the championship match, while PIMSAT will take third place sans a victory this season. Of course, there’s no doubt the Dukes will again win the championship effortlessly.

As I write this piece (Friday), I tried to call UCAAP prexy Atty. Gonzalo Duque to clarify the unexpected imbroglio but I was unable to reach him. But if you ask me, Topnotch should be professional and finish its commitment to UCAAP this season being one of the finalists for the sake of sportsmanship and harmony. Sure, they can join the PRISAA league at the same time and I think they have a big chance to win the championship as well as the UCAAP finals. I observed that the team has matured and leveled up. Remember, Topnotch is being coached by two former PBA players Christian Calaguio, Jun Marzan and erstwhile UPang PHINMA Flames mentor the flamboyant Jay Ronquillo. That counts a lot. Abangan ang susunod na kabanata. Hopefully there will be no fireworks anymore. Siya nawa.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.” MATTHEW 12: 25

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