Franz’s unpatriotic act

By Al S. Mendoza

ANOTHER reflection of how Philippine sports is really without much direction is the recent boo-boo committed by Franz Pumaren.

But before I proceed, a short introduction about Franz.

To be sure, Franz is a friendof mine. At least that’s how I consider him. A friend.

We’ve traveled together to Spain in 1985 – he as a member of the San Miguel Beer Team that competed in the World Club Championship in Gerona, Spain; me as a sportswriter who covered the event for the then Bulletin Today (now Manila Bulletin).

In his heyday, Franz was an adroit point-guard with a mean shot from afar.

I remember one time, Franz nailed a three-pointer that triggered a dramatic victory by San Miguel. That was ages ago, but the shot remains vivid in my mind.

In Spain – whether in Barcelona where we were based, or in Gerona where the tournament was held – Franz and I had happy moments together.

Many a time when we shared animated laughter. When you can laugh with some one, it would stick for all time. It was that way with Franz and me.

Among his teammates then in the Spain sojourn were Samboy Lim, Hector Calma, Allan Caidic, Tonichi Yturri, Yves Dignadice and Alfie Almario.

* * * *

Samboy is now manager of Magnolia team in the PBA, Calma GM of Coke cage squad in the PBA, Caidic manager of recent PBA champion Ginebra, and Tonichi a ranking amateur coach in the PBL. Yves now lives in the U.S. But Alfie, sadly, has gone to the Great Beyond after dying in his sleep only a while back.

Samboy and Caidic are now my kumpadres, too, after we had all become ninongs to the many kids of my fellow sportswriters some years back.

Back to Franz.

Why did Franz make a fool of himself when he came home to coach his team, La Salle, in that ill-fated game against Ateneo last Saturday, Sept. 6, at the Cubao Big Dome?

He lost it badly and he has only himself to blame for the debacle.

Had he not come home and instead stayed in Iran to finish his mission in the FIBA Asia Youth Basketball championships, who knows La Salle might have pulled it off against archrival Ateneo in the UAAP wars?

* * * *

As things turned out, La Salle was plastered a second time by Ateneo, a bitter defeat that even blunted the Archers’ bid for a twice-to-beat incentive in the Round of Four against FEU.

But as if to rub salt to injury was the fact in coming home, Franz had to abandon his boys in Iran.

That was a very unpatriotic act, to say the least.

“A lot of us are dying to coach a national team, but here’s one who left his team in favor of his school,” said Robert “The Living Legend” Jaworski.

What Franz did, indeed, was a reflection of how crooked our priorities are in Philippine sports.

We expect ourselves to win medals in the Olympics when our supposed leaders – coaches, managers, etc. – are the first to abandon ship when the sailing gets rough?

* * * *

Franz can always reason out that his team had been eliminated anyways and so, “I can leave and attend to other business.”

Fine, fine. But in my book, a leader is known to stick to his men through thick and thin, come hell or high water.

The ugliest part of it was, Franz, by coming home to handle his Archers last Saturday, never gave importance to his assistant coaches at La Salle.

Knowing Franz, though, I’m sure he will learn from this and emerge a better person.

For starters, he should call me and thank me for reminding him of his duty to country first, before anything else.

That is, if he considers me a friend.

(Readers may reach columnist at also147@yahoo.com. For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/general-admission/ For reactions to this column, click “Send MESSAGES, OPINIONS, COMMENTS” on default page.)

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