Change in DLSU coaching staff and PE

Last Sunday we had dinner with other De La Salle University (DLSU) alumni to meet DLSU’s basketball squad for this season’s UAAP season. As to be expected the “sudden” departure of erstwhile Green Archer coach, Gee Abanilla, was discussed in various huddles inside the Cameron Forbes room of the Manila Polo Club.

After the usual welcome remarks, handing out of certificates of appreciation to donors to the Archers’ cause and acknowledgment of the team’s godfathers, Br. Ricky Laguda, FSC, president and chancellor of DLSU-Manila stepped up to the podium to provide details and to explain to the DLSU community the reason for the major change in the head coach position with barely three weeks to go before the start of the UAAP basketball season.

There was widespread belief that Abanilla did a good job last season by leading the Archers into the Final Four and fourth spot last year despite the many adjustments to be made. The Archers however failed to make it to the finals (and even the semifinals) of the pre-season Filoil Flying V tournament, after losing three in a row to University of the East, Ateneo and San Beda.

In his remarks, Br. Ricky revealed that as early as the first week of May, the team’s major benefactor, Ambassador Eduardo (Danding) Cojuangco had talked to him and asked “if he was ready for another major change in the coaching staff”. The Ambassador stated that there were major changes in the offing in the Petron Blazers team which didn’t do too well in the last conference of the PBA. The Blazers wanted to recall Abanilla to help re-evaluate the Blazers organization. In short, the change was neither sudden nor to be interpreted as Abanilla being fired.

Br. Ricky asked the Ambassador for more time to reflect over the situation since he (Br. Ricky) was due to take an official trip to the US.  He requested though that, if any changes are to be made, let it happen after the Filoil Flying V matches. The two agreed, although both realized that when Abanilla is endorsed back to Petron, one cannot avoid the perception that Abanilla was “fired”.  But since both gentlemen wanted to effect the change at the most propitious time, it was agreed the announcement would be made right after the Flying V jousts, where, unfortunately for Abanilla, the Archers didn’t fare too well.

With three weeks from the start of the UAAP basketball season, the burden of making the talent- and rookie-laden squad gel into what UAAP basketball fans have called  one of the favored squads, rest on the shoulders of Jun Sauler, a former Green Archer himself, coach of other De La Salle teams and PBA assistant coach.

Sauler’s belated entry reminds us of an almost similar situation the Archers found themselves in when Franz Pumaren took over from Jong Uichico in 1998 with six weeks before the start of the season. Pumaren deftly steered the squad to four consecutive championships from 1998-2001. Sauler has half the time available and could be distracted by the huge expectations of supporters and loyal DLSU alumni. Let’s see how things evolve. All teams have souped-up their line-ups and will provide exciting games in the months ahead.

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Reactions to our columns on Physical Education and its role in nation-building and school sports continue to come in.

Once again, Victor (Toto) Africa, president of the Philippine Fencing Association weighed in to state, among other things, “maybe sports advocates can try to get the attention of the government so that something similar (to the British experience) can happen here: the return  of PE and sports (to their rightful places) which I daresay is essential and critical (to nation-building). I am still hoping that the country’s sports philosophy will include (recognize) that role and manifest it in policies and practices.”

 Africa invited our attention to, well, a country in Africa which we are rather familiar with, having travelled regularly to that west African nation from 1976 to 1980. We refer to Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation (154 million), the seventh-ranked nation in terms of population in the world and the 32nd largest country, area-wise.

When we used to frequent Lagos and other key cities, the Federal Republic of Nigeria had only 17 states plus the new capital, Abuja. The west African country, also known as the “Giant of Africa” has now 36 states with Christians and Muslims representing over 500 ethnic groups living with each other, sometimes not peacefully.

In the Daily Trust issue of June 7, 2013, writer Isiaka Wakili states that the Federal Government plans to introduce two million children to sports over the next two years and bring physical education back to schools and make participation in sports activities compulsory for all pupils and students.

Next week, more on the Nigerian and British (colonizer of Nigeria) experiences in revitalizing PE in schools.