Sports Eye
Another shameful PHL cagers’ defeat abroad
By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.
UNIVERSIADE Games, also called World Student Games, is unknown to many Filipino sports fans. I guess only the die-hard sports buffs would know more about this biennial meet. Considered as the Olympics of university competitions being participated by 168 nations, it is a multi-sporting event that features most prominent college student athletes. Basketball is one of the 11 sports that the Philippines takes part in but sad to say that our national basketball leaders in SBP don’t really give much weight to this prestigious world event. In contrast, our other national sports associations like the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP), Philippine Track and Field Association (PATAFA), to name a few, send their best student athletes.
SBP just perennially sends a token delegation to these games that results in deep embarrassment to our country in the field of basketball. I recall that in 2011 Universiade held in Shenzen, China, the Philippine quintet represented by the lowly rated University of Cebu Webmasters lost all their five encounters in the elimination round with an average of 55-point margin. That’s too much for a country whose number one sport is basketball. What happened in Shenzen was repeated in the July 6-17 Universiade Games staged in Kazan, Russia, losing also all their five matches in the qualifying round with an average of 51-point deficit. What a big shame. Our Philippine contingent this time was represented by nine-time Cebu School Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) champions University of the Visayas Green Lancers who lost to Romania by 48 points margin, 106-58; against Serbia by 81 points,125-44; against Japan by 52 points, 93-51; against Mongolia by 13 points, 92-79; and against Mexico by 72 points, 139-67. It was an ugly and horrendous defeat ‘ika nga.
Universiade Games is a universal and a high-status sports competition so I’m wondering why the SBP officials (maybe without any delicadeza) just keep sending a contingent without considering humiliation it brings to our country. This is a question that needs a million answers. I realize we cannot beat the continental giants but to lose all their encounters by gargantuan scores is not acceptable to me and to other basketball avid fans. Considering that this is a very prestigious event, we should have sent our best college teams, i.e., the multi-titled national champion Ateneo, UE, FEU, UST or La Salle, and not just a regional titlist. If the Universiade is held during the UAAP or NCAA season like what happened this year, why not try to do a little sacrifice for just two weeks, postpone these national college tourneys for the sake of our country like what the PBA is doing now. PBA is deliberately delaying their next season skirmishes because of the coming FIBA Asia Cup on August 1-11. It’s as simple as that. But despite that shameful letdown by our cagers in this year’s universiade, we’re still lucky we won gold in the field of chess competition. Our teenage chess sensation Wesley So saved the face of our country and put Philippines in 40th place. The gold victory of So, 19, from Cavite is our vey first gold in the 54 year-old Universiade. His victory also enhanced his Elo rating to 2710 from 2708. He will represent our country in the 2013 World Cup slated on August 10 to September 5 in Tromso, Norway together with Grandmasters Oliver Barbosa, winner of the May 4-5 First Robinsons Place Calasiao Chess Tournament and perennial Pangasinan visitor Mark Paragua. Good Luck to you guys and bring home the bacon.
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Pangasinan Chess League president Don Sison and event director-spokesman Allen Garcia want to extend their gratitude in advance to Mayor Carlito Zaplan of Sta. Barbara, 2nd District Rep. Leopoldo N. Bataoil and to J&J Gowns and Catering Services for pledging their full support for the coming 2nd Sta. Barbara Chess Classic. Garcia also said that the two categorized tournament (open, 14-under) is sanctioned by the national governing chess body the National Chess Federation of the Philippines headed by its president Prospero “Butch” Pichay and open to any individual. Trophies plus cash prizes amounting to P85,000 are at stake. Mabuhay din kayo mga sports patrons. Keep on developing the young in sports.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. COLOSSIANS 3: 1-2
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