The split in Dagupan City caging 

By Jesus A. Garcia, Jr.
“IF YOU want to be a great athlete, you have to fight the best!”  This is an iconic maxim of former world heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali about athletes in any kind of sports particularly his fellow boxers. He fought all the top guys in his division during his glory days and destroyed them all including then the undefeated and the much-feared George Foreman. And because of his absolute intrepid stance, critics viewed him as “the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time.”

Yes, this dictum by Ali is applicable to any kind of sport including teams sports like basketball, volleyball, football, baseball, etc. But unfortunately some people who are hungry for titles don’t believe Ali.  They choose to be select their foes, fighting simply lowly rated foes just to earn glory and achieve adulation. This happening to one Dagupan caging, the PRISAA-UCAAP Inter-Collegiate Basketball Championship organized by the top honchos of Dagupan City’s institutions. It split into  two groups because of differences.

This started after the 2013 PRISAA National Games. The UCAAP organized its own tilt, away from the PRISAA faction. The UCAAP bloc led by its president Chito Salazar of UPang-PHINMA invited all tertiary institutions in the province including the multi-titled University of Luzon being coached by my friend Renato “Jack” Vidal to join the UCAAP tilt tentatively to open on September 16. But, the latest information I received was UL declined the invitation for still unknown reason and  instead surprisingly formed another tourney to be held in Binalonan inviting well-known schools in Pangasinan and La Union except the Lyceum Northwestern University Dukes. I asked Dukes head coach Angel Gumarang what it was all about and kiddingly answered “Siguro umiiwas na sila na makalaban kami dahil alam nilang hindi na kami kayang talunin ngayon dahil wala na yong mga imports nila.” “Kung ayaw lumaban ay may maraming dahilan at kung gustong lumaban ay may maraming paraan,” he added.

True or not I believe this is not good precedent for the college students of the city who are fun of this James Naismith invented sport. Yes, it’s  Vidal’s right to do whatever he wants to do but being the sports consultant or coordinator of the city he should give a good example to our young ones and the Dagupeños in particular.  To Vidal, I say – Strut your wares and be professional because while professional fellows know their limits , they are aware how to face and accept the realities about themselves. Prove your worth and be the epitome of the youth and don’t’ be ruled by your fear of defeat.  You’re one of the best coaches  but be man enough to join the UCAAP tourney (again) and the fans will love you for being a gentleman. Take the Olympic adage says “It’s not the triumph alone but also the try.” Champions are not born but are developed and that’s what happened to me. Let the other teams decide their own fate  but don’t hesitate to join the league and take the mantra of Ali to heart.

That’s my unsolicited advice. “It’s not how you won the game but it is how you played the game,’ was how Ali paraphrased YMCA’S mantra.  I agree.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: And Jesus Christ said “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. And whenever you stand praying, if you have against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” MARK 11: 24-26

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