"I’ll be perfectly candid with you," Osmeña told The STAR. "It’s political. Every time there’s an election approaching, I put up a basketball team. It provides good exposure."
Ironically, there was really meant to be an orange juice drink bearing his name, but the product was held up at the Bureau of Food and Drug (BFAD).
"My business partners and I had already agreed we were going to repackage the juice of another company," the senator continues. "We have all the advertising and promotional materials and everything. But for some reason, it is still with the BFAD. But there really is a product."
Osmeña has a long-standing affinity for sport, and is a frequent visitor to the PBA and MBA games. It’s mostly out of frustration at not being able to play.
"I was the tallest boy in the family, so it was natural to assume that I would become an athlete. It did not work out. But I always ended up hanging around the athletes. I’ve been towel boy and team manager, even with my school and varsity teams."
A few years ago, Osmeña made sports headlines when he acquired a large property in Dumaguete and converted it into the first and only Filipino designed golf course in the country, and endeavor he maintains to this day. Seeing the imminent elections, he searched for a venue for exposure in basketball.
"It’s economic," he explains, clarifying his choice of the PBL. "The entire payroll of the team, including the staff, is equivalent to the salary of just one player in the PBA and MBA."
So far, so good. John O Juzz spent a few weeks atop the PBL, and is now fighting for a slot in the semifinals. It has also brought new life to the careers of forlorn players like Bong Salvador, who languished on the bench of the Socsargen Marlins in the PBL last year. Salvador has had a breakout year, becoming one of the top scorers of the team. He even stars in the John O television commercial.
And what has the response been in Osmeña’s bailiwick?
"Actually, I’ve received a lot of protest from Cebu," he admits. "They’re all complaining that I didn’t hire any Cebuano players, that I should have formed an all-Cebuano team. If they can show me a 6-6 or 6-7 player from Cebu, I’ll hire him. But there aren’t any. And most of the really good players are already playing in commercial leagues there."
Given the backlash, the veteran legislator explains that he still thinks it’s a good idea to have a basketball team in public view.
"Gut feel, I think so. Although it’s always hard to quantify, and even pollsters have a hard time proving whether it works or not. But I think it will be very positive."
Osmeña and Senator Robert Barbers were also set to conduct hearings on the proliferation of foreign-bred players or Fil-Ams in professional basketball. But they decided to hold it after the Asian Games, since it may end up an unwarranted distraction to the players and coaches working feverishly to put up a good team.