PSC questions foreign coach competing vs RP bowlers

The Philippine Sports Commission is questioning the bowling association’s practice allowing American coach Purvis Granger to represent the country and compete against Filipino bets in international events.

"There are times Granger was playing against Filipino athletes. How can you coach the Philippines tapos kalaban mo Filipino athletes," said William "Butch" Ramirez, officer-in-charge of the Philippine Sports Commission.

Ramirez said he hoped to sit down with Philippine Olympic Committee officials to set clear-cut guidelines on the matter.

"It’s not the total fault of the coach, nasa namamahala iyan," said Ramirez.

Granger, one of the nine foreign coaches currently on the PSC payroll, drew the PSC’s ire for continuously representing the country in tournaments abroad, and at times, hurdling local keglers.

One instance saw Granger making the finals of the 2003 Aviva Asian Bowling Tour Grand Slam finals at the expense of Filipino Chester King. The American went on to beat Guam’s Duane Camacho to top the event in Singapore.

Because of this, the bowling group, headed by World Bowling Federation (FIQ) president and POC secretary-general Steve Hontiveros, drew flak from local bowlers, including veteran internationalist Bong Coo.

"We will see to it that the contract is properly followed by foreign coaches to prevent acts detrimental to Filipino athletes," said Guillermo Iroy, Ramirez’s executive director.

Granger, who Iroy said receives about $2,000 a month, has a one year contract expiring on June 1.

Other foreign coaches on the agency payroll are Zhang Dehu of diving, Tong Wei of fencing, Petre Neda and Liliana Ionita of gymnastics, Suhartono of Pencak Silat, Lodoi Enkhbayar of wrestling, and Yu Zhi Bo and Xu Gui Lin of wushu.

The Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines headed by Manny Lopez is planning to re-hire Cuban coach Raul Liranza, who coached Mansueto "Onyok" Velasco to the 1996 Atlanta Olympics boxing silver medal.