PATAFA – Obiena rift escalates, Obiena unperturbed
By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.
THE PATAFA-Obiena rift is still unresolved despite the senate intervention to fix the crisis. It has turned from bad to worst. The issue is like the unstoppable soaring of oil prices and the weakening of our peso in the world market.
Yes, latest report says the status of Philippines pole vault standout Obiena to officially represent the Philippines in various world competitions still hangs in the balance. There’s the coming prestigious World Indoor Championships on March 18-20 in Belgrade, Serbia and the World Outdoor Championships on July 15-24 in Eugene, Oregon, U.S. Then there is the biennial meet 2022 in Hanoi Southeast Asian Games on May 12-25 where he’s touted as the defending champion. There’s also the 2022 Hangzhou, China Asian Games on September 10-25 which he’s the current Asian record holder with a leap of 5.93 meters.
PATAFA (Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association) headed by Philip Ella Juico did not include Obiena as part of the contingents in these four major international games all sanctioned by the world governing body International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Yes, this is bad image for Philippine sports. As of this writing, there is still no indication that Juico will change his mind before the March 12 deadline.
The PATAFA-Obiena tiff first started when Obiena’s coach Ukrainian Vitaly Petrov reported then to PATAFA that his ward did not completely pay him his due only to be retracted by Petrov claiming that he’s fully paid by Obiena. But despite the admission of Petrov, PATAFA still accused Obiena of allegedly falsifying liquidation of payments to Petrov (who I believe is now in Ukraine because of the war). The five-foot-eleven Tondo, Manila-born Obiena detailed his explanation to the Senate hearing last week that his coach, Petrov, has been fully paid and firmly denied PATAFA’s accusation.
Notwithstanding, Obiena’s statements, the self-centered Juico proceeded to file a “statement of appeal” with the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland last February 11, and cited Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Bambol Tolentino and Obiena as respondents. Tolentino described the move of Juico as an attempt to impugn his integrity and to block the attempt of the honorable senators purposely to amicably settle the issue for the good of Philippine sports.
Fortunately, this brouhaha did not affect the 26-year-old 2020 Tokyo Olympian Obiena. He was clearly unperturbed and went on to shine in some major international events this year, like wresting the gold medals in the Orien Cup and the Orien Copernicus Cup, respectively, both held in Poland last month that saw the participation of the best in the world. And last week, he bagged the silver medal in the Perch Elite Tour in Rouen France won by American Chris Nilsen of U.S., the 2020 Tokyo Olympics silver medal winner. The 2016 Rio Olympics gold medalist Thiago Braz of Brazil clinched the bronze.
Without a doubt, it proves that the Filipino pole vault masterpiece who ranks fifth in the world, is the athlete that we have to reckon with. My advice to both parties is to end the rift and for Juico to endorse Obiena in all competitions abroad. After all, Obiena’s victory is also ours. Amen.
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By the time you read this piece, the 10-day 2022 Ronda Pilipinas already commenced last March 11 in Sorsogon City and will culminate on March 20 at Burnham Park in Baguio City. Hopefully our 17 Pangasinan elite riders who were distributed to different teams will bring home the individual diadem worth P1M in cash, like what they did in 2018 which was won by Ronald Oranza of Villasis. Good luck and God bless you guys.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawlessness deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. TITUS 2: 13
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