History in the making

In the past few weeks that I’ve been away, a lot has happened in Philippine sports. I came back home early yesterday morning and spent several hours reading the newspapers to catch up on local developments. I couldn’t believe so much has happened in so short a period. But I wasn’t surprised. That’s the nature of sports–it’s dynamic, exciting, and often turbulent.

I read about Sen. Robert Barbers’ efforts to uncover Fil-shams disguised as Fil-foreigners in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). I’ve batted for a purge of the masqueraders since the disappearance of Al Segova, Rob Parker, and Sonny Alvarado. If there are any Fil-shams left, they should be hung and quartered. Worse, their agents should be exposed because they, more than the players, should be held accountable for making a mockery of the country’s immigration laws. A Fil-sham or his agent must have falsified documents to gain endorsement from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and certification from the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The word is Sen. Barbers has the goods on at least nine Fil-shams. No name has been mentioned. I suggest if there are Fil-shams out there hiding behind tampered birth papers, they should hightail it out of town like Parker and Segova because they’ll be found out in the end. Sen. Barbers isn’t fooling around. He’s dead serious in tracking down the malefactors.

The PBA can’t be blamed for accepting Fil-foreigners into their ranks as locals. Under the law, a Fil-foreigner is entitled to the rights and privileges of a Filipino citizen-provided his or her Filipino parent was still a Filipino citizen at the time of his or her birth. That provision is the basis on which the BI makes its endorsement to the DOJ for certification. So if a Fil-foreigner is able to secure both a BI endorsement and a DOJ certification, the PBA cannot deny his eligibility to play in the league as a local.

I also read about the Players Association seeking a seat in the PBA Board of Governors. Although the intention is good, it’s just not possible. The PBA Board is composed of representatives of companies that own franchises in the league. There can be no seat for any group that does not own a franchise. However, the PBA Board may agree to open up seats for a representative of the Players Association in some of its committees. Perhaps, a representative of the Players Association may be invited to sit in the rules committee, for instance.

I read about PBA deputy commissioner Sonny Barrios’ resignation to clear the way for the appointment of commissioner Jun Bernardino’s successor. Sonny had earlier been informed he is not in contention for the job. It was a heroic gesture on Sonny’s part.

I read that the hottest candidates to succeed Bernardino are former PBA chairman Rey Gamboa, broadcaster Noli Eala and former coach Chito Narvasa.

I read that the battle to survive in the PBA All-Filipino Cup is as tight as can be. At the end of the eliminations, the top two teams advance to the semis outright and the bottom four take an early Christmas vacation. The other four slug it out in a pair of best-of-3 quarterfinal series with the winners moving on to the semis.

On top of the heap is Red Bull (6-1) with San Miguel Beer (5-2) and Coca-Cola (5-2) a hair behind.

In the Philippine Basketball League (PBL), the Challenge Cup is also playing at fever-pitch as former Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) stars like Romel Adducul, Alex Compton, Eddie Laure, Stephen Padilla, Dino Aldeguer, and Reynel Hugnatan share the spotlight with varsity standouts like James Yap, Mark Cardona, Sunday Salvacion, and Ranidel de Ocampo. Dong Vergeire and Philip Cezar are back coaching, making the race to the top of the PBL even more interesting.

I read that the University of the East repulsed surprise finalist Far Eastern University to capture the first Champions League title. Congratulations are in order for the hard-driving Warriors and to the Tamaraws for reaching the finals.

I read that La Salle’s Miguelito Gozum and Red Bull’s PBA Board representative Jun Cusipag passed away. Gozum, 21, collapsed during an exhibition game and died. Cusipag was never the same after undergoing a heart bypass surgery last May. They will both be missed.

I read that International Boxing Federation (IBF) superbantamweight champion Manny Pacquiao’s younger brother Bobby scored a unanimous 12-round decision over Baby Lorona, Jr. to retain his Philippine superfeatherweight title at the Casino Filipino Amphitheater last Nov. 20. And in the undercard, World Boxing Council (WBC) international flyweight titlist Randy Mangubat retained his crown via a ninth round technical decision over rugged Bert Cano.

In the Nov. 15 issue of Boxing News, it was reported that Pacquiao—Manny, not Bobby—phoned his business agent Rod Nazario "to say he can take care" of Marco Antonio Barrera as he watched the Mexican beat Johnny Tapia on TV.

"If Barrera is wondering from where his next challenger may originate, he need only look at Pacquiao, the aggressive southpaw puncher from the Philippines," said Boxing News editor Claude Abrams.

In tennis, Joseph Victorino won the Philippine Columbian Association (PCA) men’s single title by upending Davis Cupper Adelo Abadia, 4-6, 7-6, 1-6, 6-2, 6-3, in a three-hour, 45-minute marathon at the PCA courts in Manila. In the women’s singles championship match, Czarina Mae Arevalo disposed of Lee Min Hee of South Korea, 6-1, 6-4. Also in tennis, 16-year-old Indian Sania Mirza drubbed Akgul Amanmuradova of Uzbekistan, 6-0, 4-6, 6-3, to bag the Union Cement International Tennis Federation (ITF) girls’ championship at the Rizal courts.

In golf, Raul and Paul Minoza won the U-Bix National Pro-Am tournament at the Couples Course in the Riviera in Silang, Cavite.

In chess, the Philippines lost to Bangladesh in its final match and fell to 39th in the 141-nation 35th World Olympiad in Bled, Slovenia. A win over Bangladesh could’ve catapulted the Philippines into the top 15. In a bit of consolation, teenaged Mark Paragua wound up in a tie for third at the World Youth Chess Championships in Crete.

In billiards, Django Bustamante pocketed the $10,000 first prize at the 9-ball IBC Open at the Rising Sun Center in Tokyo.

In women’s beach volleyball, Thailand’s Manatsanan Pangka and Ariaisuk Ratanaporn claimed the Philippine leg of the Asian circuit at the Clearwater Country Club in Angeles City. The event was organized by the Philippine Amateur Volleyball Association and the AYN Sports Management Group.

Finally, a huge crowd witnessed the first-ever Ultimate Fighting Championships at the Casino Filipino Amphitheater last Nov. 23. Tournament director and promoter Alvin Aguilar, a local martial arts practitioner, had to turn away hundreds of patrons as the response to the no-holds-barred competition was completely unexpected. The fans who managed to make their way inside the auditorium got their money’s worth. A ticket sold for P280. Aguilar said he plans to hold another competition next year, with international fighters in the bill.

Believe it or not, those were just some of the sports headlines the last few weeks.