Our sports and leaders are beset with illness

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

BILLIARDS is one of the sports where Filipinos excel in. A survey says this is one of the favorite sports of Pinoys, next to basketball. Yes, I can agree with that.

Despite its exclusion in the Olympic Games, Filipinos are really keen on this sport where we have produced three world champions: Efren “Bata” Reyes in 1999, Alex Pagulayan in 2004, and Ronnie Alcano in 2006.

In fact, the world’s number 1 ranked billiards player this year is another Filipino named Dennis Orcollo.

Billiards, or pool as called by the Americans, is a poor man’s sport in the Philippines. Maybe that is partly because our great players like Reyes, Alcano and Django Bustamante, to name a few, not only overcame poverty and improved their families’ living conditions but gained respect and recognition through this game.

But because of the popularity and its potential for huge financial rewards in the country, some sports leaders have started to exploit our national players by cheating and corrupting them. This has prompted some of prominent players to form a maverick group called Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP), which has icon Reyes, Pagulayan, Alcano, Bustamante, Orcollo as leaders.

BMPAP has detached and distanced itself from the original national governing body, the Billiards and Snookers Congress of the Philippines (BSCP).

The BMPAP players are frequently traveling abroad, winning a lot of tournaments and lifting our country to top ranks in this sport. I doff my hat to them.

And now, Philippines is again hosting the Ten-Ball World Championship under the auspices of BSCP with a total cash prize of $400,000 at stake, with 128 players to participate. But our best players will not be in it due to the differences with the organizers.

Yes, we still have a formidable cast. Left to spearhead the local battle are 2008 national champion Marlon Manalo, Antonio Gabica and Jeffrey Luna. The three are also well-known in international tourneys but not as great as say Reyes, Pagulayan, Alcano and Bustamante.

The tourney is in progress at the Philippine International Convention Center and I believe our chances to snatch the crown are very slim due to the absence of our nationals and this may cause embarrassment to the country.

The imbroglio in billiards is no different from the problems plaguing basketball, cycling, badminton and swimming. No need to elaborate. Like me, you read that, too, sports followers.

These national sports associations are characterized by power-squabbling, pataasan ng ego, and thick-faced officials. And the affairs of these sports federations, particularly basketball, are heavily tainted with politics.

Our country faces a lot of woes in sports, not only in politics. But I never expected that the usual sports mess would affect billiards, our jewel in international competitions.

I’m anticipating more sports gaffes to emerge all because our leaders continue to be beset with self-interests

Mahirap magsalita ng patapos, but you can mark my words. Amen.

(Readers may reach columnist at biking.jess@yahoo.com. For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/sports-eye/
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