‘Tis The Sporting Year to be Jolly (Part 2 of 2)

It’s 2014. And this looks to be a great year sporting wise.

At least I hope it will be.

We got the FIBA worlds coming around. Then there’s FIFA if we are to look at international goals. Or us hosting the FIVB Grand Prix since Leila Barros (okay, there goes my age) went to party in Manila. And what about the Asian Games just around the corner?

For our long-delayed second part, I’m compiling my wishes. Yes, my wishes for Philippine Sports and just the sporting world in general. I think it’s better than just looking back at the year that was.

PBA shortening the schedule

Business-wise, this is bad. But on the plus-side, national team success is better than club success right? I mean the honor, glory and all that shiny bling that comes with it, weighs more than a club championship. Sure, we won’t be winning medals in the FIBA Worlds soon, but being able to send a team that is in top condition and not gassed due to a strenuous schedule is better than sending a fatigued team that is tired of seeing a ball bounce up and down. Please, uncle Danding, don’t be selfish this time around.

Volleyball getting some love

I was shocked and utterly disgusted when we did not send our volleyball team in the recently concluded SEA Games at Myanmar. It’s such a shame to deprive the Women’s Volleyball team from competing against the SEA powerhouses like Indonesia and Thailand. The ladies deserve to at least show their wares above the nets. You know why we never progressed in this sport? It’s because no one even bothers. Great volleyball coaches like Dulce Pante, Nestor Pamilar, Ramil de Jesus can steer our women’s team that boasts of the Carolinos, Gumabao, Daquis, Neri Bautista, to name a few, to at least a borderline podium finish. Those ladies can slam that ball in a bad, bad way against the Bualees, Kesinees, that proliferate the Shakey’s V-League. Give them a chance. Give them a backer. Give them the support that Gilas received and I bet my income and house that they’ll die for a medal to hand you.

Step down, uncle Peping

You called sports journalists liars. Yet you continue to set substandard goals and provide crap training for the national team. If you really want to help, you and Richie Garcia should start emptying those pockets. I mean come on. You are a Cojuangco. You have cash stashed somewhere that can make a decent Athlete’s Village somewhere in the metro. Please, please don’t play me for a fool when you say you don’t have money. And that the standard is whether an athlete can beat the previous BRONZE medal holder. Sure, baby steps, you might say, but old man, we’re way past baby steps. These athletes, given the proper training, can give you gold. If you want to settle for bronze, at least say OLYMPIC BRONZE standard, not Asian Games standard. And for the love of sports, please step down. I need fresh air, and fresh ideas.

Uprising by the Azkals

Hey guess what! We’re at the top of the SEA rankings by FIFA. We sit at 127 internationally, way far off from the world powers. But hey, what was once a lowly team and footballing nation is slowly rumbling towards relevancy. Japan’s Blue Samurais weren’t an overnight success. They were built painstakingly by establishing the raucous Japanese Pro-League and going on from there. I think our own football is still in its baby stages. But what strides they have made in its supposed infancy. The UFL still has to establish itself the same way the J-League and Korean pro circuit.

Injuries, please stay away

Injuries have robbed most of my favorite athletes their best years. There’s Tracy McGrady, then there’s damn unlucky Greg Oden (though I hope he continues in Miami). Let’s not forget Brandon Roy, who will forever have a soft spot in my fanboy heart. And of course, the latest, and probably worst since this is my team since childhood, there’s Derrick Rose’s recent knee problems. Can’t we all have a good, healthy year so that we can enjoy their top-notch skills? Please? Oh, kindly include LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard in my prayers for un-injuries for my Western team, the Portland Trail Blazers.

I guess for now, those can be my concrete wishes.

What’s yours?

Send your letters of complaint, protest, and blind hate to @PioVGarcia.