A basketball fan's lament

This day is special to many men and some women I know as it marked a change in our lives.

Twenty two years ago, I was received as a plebe of the Cadet Corps Armed Forces of the Philippines in Camp Aquino in Tarlac, Tarlac.

This afternoon, the members of the PMA Cebu Squad Inc. along with the officers assigned in Cebu and the former cadets will gather at the grandstand of Camp Lapu-lapu to relive our April 1 experiences.

Our reception is one athletic activity that we would never forget for the rest of our lives.

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A basketball fan sent me email last weekend about her sad experience at the Cebu Coliseum during the CESAFI Partners’ Cup.

She asked that I only put her initials and here is her story:

I cannot fathom where the schools picked up these people and what are their qualifications? They lack discipline and they are ill mannered and no qualms of the right conduct. 

Unforgivable is UC Asistant Coach Samonte who acts as if he is the head coach of UC— where on earth in basketball do you see an assistant coach standing alongside with the head coach by the bench shouting instructions to the players. UC Coach Ruel Gomez should also contain his coaching staff and put them in their right place. He should have learned this years ago from his mentor , coach extraordinaire Tim Cone…there’s only one voice, one person standing up and that’s the head coach!( Please refer to FIBA rule #3 article 7 ).

On Saturday’s game between UC VS SWU, UC Asst Coach Samonte and Head Coach Ruel Gomez rushed frantically towards the table officials when an unsportsmanlike foul was slapped on their erring player Quilantang!

Deputy Commissioner Feliciano approached the table to calm down the situation. Coach Ruel seeing the logic of the foul calmly returned to their bench with his assistant coach next to him. But like a scolded guilty child Samonte retaliated by pushing the head of deputy commissioner Feliciano and walked passed as if he did not do something objectionable. 

That was completely tasteless, uncalled for and unforgivable! CESAFI should seriously look into the qualifications of their staff from commissioners, deputies, team members, coaching staff, referees, and table officials. They shouldn’t settle for mediocrity just to get on with the game. Quality, discipline and integrity should be made the battle cry. It can never become perfect but the organizers should make an extra effort for it to be worth patronizing especially by students who are full of idealism. So to speak children learn what they live. Let’s give them an experience worth learning and emulating! CESAFI Organizers should ban animals from running around the court pretending to be Homo sapiens!

(ALPR, a Basketball Aficionado)

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I was told that Commissioner Felix ‘Boy’ Tiukinhoy banished the assistant coach of UC.

I’ve seen many coaches, assistant coaches, team staff, players, and fans lose their cool during games and it’s an ugly sight.

Let’s not allow this to happen again.

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MILESTONES: Happy birthday greetings go to my cousin Ladi Quiniones Starkey, Daisy Ba-ad and to Sandra Centino-Jones, who all turn a year older today.

Belated greetings to Hazel Quiletorio-Ypil, who turned a year older yesterday and to Atty. Mark ‘Tole’ Tolentino, who turned a year older last Monday. –THE FREEMAN