Reward an unsettled issue

The promise of sending La Salle to represent the country at the World University Games in Serbia on July 1-12 as a reward for winning the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) basketball title last year will not be kept after all.

In a letter to UAAP secretary-general Junjun Capistrano dated last March 18, sports department manager Michal Buchel of the Universiade governing body FISU (Federation Internationale du Sport Universitaire) said the Philippines could not be accommodated because it is not a FISU member country and there were over 30 applications for only 26 slots.

Buchel had earlier rejected the Philippines’ application in a letter to Capistrano dated last March 9. Capistrano sent an appeal a week later but Buchel wouldn’t budge.

Capistrano said he was not aware of the membership requirement and in good faith, paid the basketball team’s entry fee of $5,000.

“The UAAP represented the Philippines and was granted membership to the Asian University Sports Federation during its meeting in Shenzhen, China, on July 16, 2007,” said Capistrano. “Right after that, in Shenzhen itself, we submitted our application for membership to the FISU.”

Capistrano said there is no provision in the FISU charter stipulating membership as a requirement to participate and pointed out that in the Bangkok Universiade two years ago, the Philippines competed in fencing, swimming, shooting and taekwondo.

Capistrano also mentioned in Serbia, the Philippine Taekwondo Association is sending a full force of 24 jins.

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There are 26 countries listed for basketball in this year’s Universiade. Asia will be represented by China, United Arab Emirates, Korea, Iran and Japan. Also in the cast are the US, Brazil, Lithuania, Russia, Canada, Serbia, Turkey, Australia, Germany and Greece. In the 16-team women’s division, the Asian countries are China, Japan and Chinese-Taipei.

Capistrano said he was encouraged by the FISU secretary-general, a Belgian, to send a basketball team to Serbia during the Universiade in 2007.

“We were even told there could be funding for our team from FISU,” related Capistrano. “I remember the secretary-general telling me he played against Robert Jaworski at the Tokyo Universiade in 1967. But sponsors shied away from Serbia because of the civil unrest and the secretary-general was eventually replaced.”

Capistrano made an impassioned appeal for Buchel to reconsider the Philippines’ position.

“We realize (our participation in 1967) was some time ago and maybe the provision of being a FISU member association was not yet in place,” wrote Capistrano. “But if it were, then perhaps, the UAAP was either a member organization then or an exception was granted to the UAAP so that we could participate.”

Capistrano even dropped FISU president George Killian’s name in an attempt to get Buchel’s attention but to no avail.

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“If FISU has enough countries that fulfilled their obligations, (it) is absolutely logical to prefer those which are member associations,” reasoned Buchel. “That was the reason and due to this fact, I replied to your email. We had over 30 teams (applying) from member associations and it will be not fair to select for the draw a country which is a non-member association. I hope that in the future, you become a full member of FISU and you will be able to participate.”

Capistrano said he presumes the $5,000 entry fee will be refunded.

As for La Salle’s prize, Capistrano said he is working out an arrangement with SBP executive director Noli Eala and is keeping in close touch with Bro. Bernie Oca.

“The SBP has the calendar of international tournaments where La Salle may be able to participate,” said Capistrano. “Bro. Bernie would like the trip to be scheduled before the UAAP opening so La Salle could use it for tune-ups. We explored the possibility of La Salle joining the Philippine team training in Serbia but visas are issued only in Jakarta and it takes a week to process. The Philippine team is already leaving this Friday so that’s not possible. We’ll now look into La Salle joining the national team in the US in April.”

Capistrano said there’s a tournament in Beijing in December but that’s way too late. By then, another PCCL title would’ve been won.

Capistrano said he skipped the Universiade heads of delegations meeting in Belgrade last March 19-21 because of a death in the family. He asked a colleague from Malaysia, who flew out, to take up the basketball issue with Buchel in his place. The colleague later reported no success.

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Clearly, there were sincere efforts by Capistrano to save the Serbia trip for La Salle but it just wasn’t meant to be. Who would’ve expected more than 30 countries expressing interest to join the basketball event in Serbia?

UAAP president Anton Montinola adjusted La Salle’s schedule in the basketball season to allow for the overseas trip and he, too, was on the same page as Capistrano, Eala and PCCL chairman Rey Gamboa in trying to oblige the Archers.

Capistrano said no matter what, the promise will be kept only it won’t be a trip to Serbia but somewhere else where the reward is commensurate.

Meanwhile, there’s a growing sentiment along Taft Avenue the Archers are being taken for a ride – which is an understandable reaction even if unfair.

Archers diehard Tony Atayde sent this text message: “Well, it looks like the SBP fooled us all. Definitely no La Salle participation in Serbia. They knew it all along. They played everyone like a fiddle. Your article ‘No broken promise’ was very kind to them yet they fooled you, too. The SBP owes La Salle a public apology. I even think they took MVP for a ride as well because he wouldn’t make promises he can’t keep. They didn’t know that one had to be a member of FISU to be able to join the league. How stupid is that. Now, they have messed up the UAAP schedule, too.”

Whether or not Atayde is right in blaming whichever entity, the bottom line is the promise to La Salle remains an empty one at the moment.