From No. 1 to No. 6

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

THE Southeast Asian Games, held every two years and with only 11 nations participating, is considered as the smallest ala-Olympic Games in the world.

The countries are Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Brunei, East Timor and our country Philippines.

We entered the games in 1977, and after three tries, we almost bagged the overall championship in 1981, just one gold medal away from dislodging Indonesia.

 The RP national squad then was under the aegis of the Gintong Alay program of our national government under the leadership of Michael Keon, a very well-known sports virtuoso.

Twenty one years later, in 2005, finally we captured the overall supremacy by garnering 113 gold medals to oust 2003 and defending champion Vietnam.

We were jubilant then and said proudly: “Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!”.

Then suddenly and unexpectedly the debacle came this year on December 5-16. Our nationals tried their best but were outclassed by five other countries to land sixth with only 41 golds, our worst in the history of this biennial meet.

Two of these gold medals came from our local cyclists Alfie Catalan from San Manuel and Marites Bitbit from Malasiqui.

Many attribute the debacle to corruption, unwarranted junkets, power grabbing among the national sports associations (NSAs), bickerings, over confidence, lack of international exposures and, last but not the least, the palakasan system.

I believe them. That has been happening then and even until now. In fact, I was one of the victims during my cycling heydays as a national team member in the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games.

No need to elaborate. I already explained these wrongdoings of our sports leaders two years ago. Well, they have not changed.

I can’t blame PDI sports columnist Recah Trinidad in his December 26 article castigating our sports czars due to their debauched system. He said these sports top honchos should resign, and now.

And so far, it’s only the president of the Philippine Bowling Congress, Steve Hontiveros, who said he is ready to quit his post, including his staff. Unlike the other NSA chiefs, Hontiveros is not crocodile-skinned.

Hontiveros promised to resign after his nationals, who were heavily favored in this year’s SEA Games, failed to win a single gold.

From number one, we’re now number six. Nakakahiya, ‘ika nga.

Then the question is, when will we ever learn?

Siguro pagputi ng uwak. And that will never happen.

* * * * * *

 After three years of inactivity in basketball games in my town Mangaldan, the inter-barangay tourney was revived and just commenced last Sunday with former Mangaldan SK federation president Adji Cabrera at the helm.

There are 19 teams participating divided into two brackets led by defending champion barangay Maasin.

After four days of hostilities, Maasin already triumphed twice, clobbering barangays Guilig and Amansabina, 71-43 and 80-69, respectively.

This early pundits say Maasin with its height and might is heavily favored to retain their title.

Let’s wait and see. The fruit is not yet ripe.    

* * * * * * *

“You can’t win them all” as the saying goes.

Pangasinan’s dreaded cycling squad named Pitaki Boyz placed second twice in the eight and final leg of the national Hitachi criteruim race held last Sunday at Clark Field, Pampanga.

Manaoag son Ericson Obosa placed second to Manileno Panfilo Malangsa in the open category to pocket P8,000 plus trophy. Dante Cagas, also from Manila, landed third and San Fabian ace Sherwin Carrera placed fourth.

My son Jazy came in second in the executive division to earn P2,000 and also a trophy.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

(Readers may reach columnist at biking.jess@yahoo.com. For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/sports-eye/
For reactions to this column, click “Send MESSAGES, OPINIONS, COMMENTS” on default page.)

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