Victims of circumstance

It’s widely known that the reason why Cameroon’s Benoit Mbala was required to sit out two years in residence at La Salle for eligibility to play with the Green Archers in the UAAP had to do with the Board of Trustees imposing a similar sit-out on Jerie Pingoy.

Last season, the UAAP Board overstepped its authority by imposing two-year restrictions on both Pingoy and Mbala with immediate effectivity. The previous practice was to hold off the implementation of new rules or restrictions until after a year. But as the Board has empowered itself to override even its own rules, Pingoy and Mbala were tagged. Pingoy was forced to take a two-year residence on the basis of a new rule stipulating the penalty for crossing over from FEU juniors to Ateneo seniors. A one-year residence was the previous sanction for graduating high school players moving from one campus to another without release.

There is absolutely no justification to even impose a one-year residence on a high school graduate. Once an athlete graduates from high school, he completes his obligation and should be free to choose whichever university or college to enrol in. That is his civil right. To curtail the right is unconstitutional. Is the UAAP Board above the law?

Pingoy was an athletic scholar with FEU and played proudly for the Tamaraws’ junior squad. When he graduated last year, Pingoy should have been allowed to choose the school to play for without restriction. A release shouldn’t be necessary. High school athletes should not be bound by any contract because under the law, they are not legally able to sign a contract as minors. Besides, even college or university athletes should not be contracted to preserve their amateur status. They are not professionals and should therefore not be treated like professionals.

When the Board came down hard on Pingoy, Mbala was caught in the crossfire. Under the previous eligibility rule, imports were required to establish a two-year residency in the country before being allowed to play. Mbala played a year with Southwestern University in the Cebu league then transferred to La Salle. He should be eligible this season after establishing residency at La Salle last year. But the Board found a way to put Mbala on cold storage for two years, instead of only one, at La Salle. Was it in retaliation for Pingoy?

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How the Board can manipulate rules to benefit parochial interests isn’t just a cause for concern – it’s criminal. A few months back, it was rumored that the presidents of the different UAAP schools got together to put an end to the Board’s demagoguery. A source said the presidents were appalled to learn of a provision in the UAAP Constitution and By-Laws where the Board is empowered to decide on issues without control, supervision or jurisdiction of the heads of the schools. A leading accounting firm was supposedly tapped to revisit the UAAP Constitution and By-Laws with the objective of bringing the Board back to earth. To this day, no reforms have been instituted to correct the wrongs in the UAAP.

If the Board acted on precedents, Pingoy and Mbala would be eligible to play this season. If the Board acted in accordance with what is lawful, Pingoy should’ve been allowed to play for Ateneo last year. If nothing is changed, Pingoy and Mbala will sit out another year before finally being cleared to play in 2015-16.

“At first, the two-year residence rule made me feel sad and frustrated for the fact that I will just have to watch teammates play and run on the court yet I won’t be given a chance to do what I want to do most which is playing basketball,” said Mbala. “I will take my opportunity to make the most out of my classes, to be studious and a passionate learner. Absolutely, I feel so blessed as La Salle is one of the best schools in the Philippines and its education is also at its best.”

Ironically, Mbala’s countryman Moustapha Arafat will make his debut with UE in the UAAP this season. “Moustapha was already in the Philippines and recommended me to come over if I wanted to play while studying,” said Mbala. Two years ago, Mbala and Arafat were two of five players from Cameroon chosen to represent the country in the U18 Basketball Without Borders program sponsored by the NBA in South Africa.

“I was 16 then,” said Mbala. “It was great and fun, it made me learn a lot about basketball. I learned that basketball is not only a sport but it can help to become better as a person with my family and my country, teaching about life. I learned more from Pat Ewing, Dikembe Mutombo and from the coaches of the Memphis Grizzlies and Hornets.” Mbala and Arafat excelled in the elite camp. Mbala was named camp MVP and Arafat MVP of the All-Star Game.

Mbala took up accounting at Southwestern and wanted to enrol in the same course at La Salle but decided on sports science. San Miguel Corp. chairman Eduardo Cojuangco, a La Salle alumnus and the Archers’ chief benefactor, recently conceptualized a program for athletes where they may continue studies as scholars beyond their playing eligibility to focus on a chosen course. Ambassador Cojuangco thought of the program, realizing athletes often choose a course that is less demanding to allow time for practice and playing games. The program has been approved by the La Salle Board for implementation.

“It is very thoughtful of the school to provide us, the athletes, enough time to study at the same time to balance our practice time,” said Mbala. “The proposal of Mr. Cojuangco allowing us to be supported and financed even after finishing eligibility makes a lot of athletes to be motivated and want more to study and stay at La Salle.”

A Catholic, Mbala said he is fortunate to be able to practice his religion at La Salle. “I feel lucky and happy to share my talents under the glory of God,” said Mbala. “I can keep track on Sundays as La Salle brings the name of God. Like any other families, I keep myself very close to my family. I do communicate with them as much as possible. Sad to say, my parents have been so busy they are not able to visit me yet. I hope they will have an opportunity to come over and see me excelling in my studies and sports.”

Mbala’s father Bineli, 51, works in the Cameroon Ministry of Finance and often travels around the world to attend conferences and seminars. His mother Messina Stephanie, 49, is an insurance agent. His twin sisters Mbia Bibiane Francine and Ngono Marie Cornellie, both 30, are employed in Cameroon. Another sister Atogo Francoise, 28, is a medical student in Italy. A brother Nzdodo Pierre, 24, is a student. His family lives in Yaounde, the Cameroon capital.