Former PGA chief seeks changes in Philta

Former Project: Gintong Alay director and Philippine Youth Tennis Development Association president Bong Ilagan said he is running for the presidency of the Philippine Tennis Association, hoping to end 15 years of stagnancy in the sport, against the man who ruled tennis the last 15 years.

Salvador Andrada is running for a fourth term for the position he has occupied since 1988.

Ilagan said he is going against the tide in running for the presidency because the constitution and by-laws had been constructed to favor the incumbent.

In line with the Philta by-laws, the president will be elected by the 11 vice presidents from the various regions in the country and the seven members of the executive board.

The members of the executive board and most of the regional vice presidents have been appointed by Andrada during his term, giving the incumbent president the assurance of re-election unless he himself withdraws.

Nevertheless, Ilagan said he is running out of principle, hoping to get a mandate from an enlightened electorate.

"Philta is indeed plagued with problems, but unfortunately, the bigger problem is the incumbent leadership which has entrenched itself for the last 15 years," said Ilagan.

"Prolonged leadership like this is usually dominated by complacency, irrelevance and the foolish notion that it alone has the exclusive gift to govern and lead," he added. "A good and efficient leadership does not need 15 long years to do what it has to do, if it is borne out of a true and credible process."

Ilagan said 15 years is too long for an incumbent president to make much-needed reforms. He added that the incumbent president, for 15 years, "did not have a strong, reliable and sound junior tennis development program, which, undoubtedly is a key factor to have an equally strong and highly-competitive national men and ladies team."

He said lack of a program has resulted in a slow turnover of national players, unlimited and /or no choices for a competent and highly-competitive national team, and a national team that is inevitably composed of aging, less motivated players."

Andrada had also contented that it was not the responsibility of Philta to go into tennis development since this is the duty of clubs and associations throughout the country.

The Philippines was not represented in the Busan Asian Games, while Thailand, with which the Philippines was at par for many years, is now far ahead with the performance of Paradorn Srichaphan and Thamarin Thanasugarn in the world competitions.

"Maybe a new and fresh mandate could answer the problems that plague the organization. Let us put an end to the notion that their leadership alone could achieve the visions and goals of Philippine tennis. Most of the time, this belief corrupts the righteousness of good men. Let us give Philippine tennis a break," he said.