More reactions on La Salle row

More and more reactions from readers poured in as we welcomed comments on the eligibility scandal that has rocked La Salle’s senior men’s basketball program.

A La Salle alumnus phoned the other day to express his disappointment in Green Archers coach Franz Pumaren. He said several alumni, including former La Salle cagers, recently sought a meeting with university president Bro. Armin Luistro to share their misgivings but only got as far as contacting sports development office director Bro. Bobby Casingal who seemed to brush them away.

"Nobody doubts Franz’ ability to coach but his morals are disturbing," said the alumnus who declined to be identified. He said he belongs to a group of disgruntled alumni who count on former La Salle coaches, players and Hall of Fame athletes.

From former Philippine Sports Commission commissioner, chairman of the Philippine Southeast Asian Paralympic Games Committee and La Salle alumnus Mike Barredo: "Institutions do not make mistakes, people do. These people, from the registrar to the coaching staff or whoever, should be held accountable for their wrongdoing. I, as well as my fellow alumni, should stand proud to be Christian gentlemen who belong to the institution of De La Salle. Let us not allow others to step all over us."

From La Salle statistician Raul (Awoo) Lacson, tagged by two academically ineligible Archer players as responsible for providing their fake Philippine Educational Placement test certificates (he has denied the accusation): "Your column (last Thursday) was right on the money except for the two players. They can not just be victims. They have been hiding the truth. (Mark) Benitez lied to the ad hoc committee about his first test."

From University of the Philippines vice president for administration and professor Martin Gregorio whose sons are tourism guru Patrick, Purefoods coach Ryan and Air21 assistant coach Allan: "In the absence of incontrovertible proof that Franz Pumaren masterminded the hiring of ineligibles, let’s not crucify him. How many legitimate trophies has he given La Salle?"

From Fr. Carmelo (Tito) Caluag of Ateneo: "The column is very fair and objective. Also makes you think and come up with your own stand."

From Ateneo alumnus Robin Tong who forwarded several text messages: "This is from an ex-PBA team manager – ‘I hope that the liaison officer and the former member of the coaching staff who allegedly worked on the Benitez papers are not fall guys who will take the blame to protect others who either knew about it but kept quiet or were actually part of the scam. I also find it hard to believe that any member of the coaching staff and team management will act on his own without complicity of team management or head coach.’ I just happened to meet (UAAP technical committee head) Ricky Palou. He said many can’t understand why you’re going out on a limb for Franz. You’re betting your journalistic integrity and reputation on him. You’re coming across as Franz’ apologist."

(My comment–A person is presumed innocent until proved guilty. I am an apologist for nobody. La Salle executive vice president Dr. Carmelita Quebengco told me in the testimonies the fact-finding committee received in the course of its investigation, there is nothing to implicate Pumaren or even hint at his complicity. We should guard against the lynch-mob mentality which tends to cloud our sense of reasoning. Let us not react to this situation like blood-thirsty vultures out to devour someone on the basis of a presumption.)

From La Salle alumnus Gilbert Jose: "Great balanced commentaries on current La Salle predicament. I just wish others were more balanced and solution-oriented than adversarial. I don’t agree with how La Salle handled the situation but we should give them help not put them down."

From Ateneo alumnus and former PBA executive director Sonny Barrios: "Your cold-blooded column is commendable."

From La Salle alumnus, UP Sports Foundation founder, La Salle Sports Foundation member, La Salle Karate Club founder and former La Salle volleyball player Francis Yuseco:

"While we certainly do not condone such an unforgivable act of accepting or worst, falsifying a public document, we cannot rush to the conclusion all members of the coaching staff are guilty and Bro. Armin is white-washing it. There are no "Hello Garci" tapes here and any one or every one who knows anything are all free to come out and say his or her piece. Neither are there any oppressive executive orders to bar anyone from speaking freely.

"To make a parallel case, if Jobe Nkemokolan of Ateneo and Arwind Santos of FEU are also proven ineligible, Nkemokolan for not officially finishing high school, Arwind for already having played in the Cebu Commercial League, are we now also going to condemn their entire school and coaching staff for these also very serious infractions?

"If we are, fine, but let’s not single out La Salle, let us also condemn these other schools or maybe better still, let’s just abolish the entire UAAP.

"If that’s not acceptable, then let’s punish the guilty and not blame the innocent. Incidentally, what is the role of Reedly International in recruiting not too academically endowed players for Ateneo? Nothing really wrong in sharpening up guys like Japeth Aguilar, Zion Lattere, Nkemokolan, etc. But curiously, why not enroll them at the Ateneo high school, per se? In the end, it’s never too late to put one’s house in order but let’s all do it fairly and squarely and not act like mad dogs out for a kill.

"It’s always nice to reminisce about our old La Salle when the campus was much smaller, where everybody practically knew each other. But those glorious days are gone. Different does not necessarily mean worse. Today, La Salle is much bigger. Its system much more expansive. A natural consequence is the profile of our varsity players who mirror the profile of the campus population. Today, our players are bigger, heftier, definitely less articulate and perhaps even pedestrian. La Salle, being now a lot more cross-country, is considerably now more grassroots in its recruitment program.

"But inarticulate as they may seem in English, they certainly aren’t in Filipino as we truly are. The real true big picture is that over the years, La Salle has helped a lot of poor and marginal but well-deserving students (athletes and non-athletes) finish college to become productive citizens. A case in point is the four-peat women’s volleyball team. Most of the players come from modest families from different provinces. These champion lasses are not your usual English speaking garden variety type but they truly deserve our support and they render the school proud.

"The cases of Benitez and Gatchalian are unfortunate. Are we now going to overhaul our entire sports program of recruiting poor or marginal but highly deserving athletes to gain entry to La Salle because of this unfortunate event? Are we absolutely certain without any iota of doubt that the entire coaching staff conspired to commit a criminal act and Bro. Armin, who is in the forefront of the National Search for Truth for the country, is covering up for them?"

In Thursday’s column, I wrote about making the ultimate sacrifice. I said: "If only to spare La Salle from more humiliation, certain visible figures in the school’s sports hierarchy should resign out of delicadeza. It would be an act of supreme sacrifice particularly as this may involve innocent people not directly responsible for the crime. But there is a price to pay for playing blind, negligence and ignorance."

La Salle team manager Terry Capistrano has taken the lead in making the ultimate sacrifice by resigning his position. Are there others willing to sacrifice for the school?