Pangasinan duathletes unfairly sacked

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.
MY amigo and town mate Adje Cabrera, a sports fanatic, came to see me last week with bad news – our three duathletes, Robeno Javier of Sto. Tomas, Jeric Buhian of Asingan and Robinson Esteves of Urdaneta City, members of the Philippine national squad were unfairly and unceremoniously sacked by their head coach Manrique Reyes. Reason: breach of discipline. Adje said the three, who already won some international honors, were unfairly treated and were never given a chance to explain themselves.

He said the three, who were with him, admitted to having been drinking liquor last December 9, considered a very serious offense. But the three and Adje said the decision of their coach came so sudden and unexpected since they were never given a chance to give their side. There was no due process. I can understand their hurt since their expulsion caused them a lot. Their monthly allowance was stopped and soon, their bicycles that they used during their training and participation in local and overseas races as members of the national squad, will be recalled. These bikes were provided by the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP).

What happened to the three also happened to me during my amateur days. I was a member of the six-man training pool of the Philippine national team for the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games where I emerged as the second strongest (of the final four) next to Cornelio Padilla when I was kicked out by my superior alleging that I lacked discipline so I was not sent to the Tokyo Games. That charge was not true but like the three, I was never given a chance, the due process that was mandated by cycling constitutions-and-by-laws. They just kicked me out with that one word “undisciplined.”

Pissed and challenged and despite my being a rookie in the two-wheeled event, I decided to turn professional the following year (1965). Fortunately I topped the Pangasinan Team elimination race and won the first runner-up plum in the 15-day 1965 Tour of Luzon that Bicol dusky rider Jose Sumalde won. Except Padilla who did not join the race having remained as an amateur, I defeated all our Tokyo Olympians convincingly. Our Pangasinan squad, me at the helm winning three stages, won the team honor.

Well after many years, I was informed by an insider in the national cycling body that my superior was bribed to kick me out in order to give way to another rider that did not even pass the criteria. It was all because of money. This love for money, according to the Good Book, is the root of all evil. Amen.

Then and until now, the “palakasan” system in Philippine sports is still with us. And I believe that this is the reason why we cannot even land in the top three in the overall standing among 11 nations of the (SEA) South East Asia Games today because of this anomaly. The worst that happened was to see our team defeated by a city-state Singapore. That’s really a big shame. Yes, you might say that I’m being biased, but I have a big hunch that what happened to me, happened to them – it was about politics and money. They were unfairly sacked and were not given a due process. I just pray that they will soon be re-installed in the nationals. They already brought honor to our province and to our country.

*          *          *          *

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and your mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: That it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” EPHESIANS 6: 1-3

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments