Christmas wish list, Part 2

‘Tis the day after Christmas when all through the house, every creature is stirring, including a mouse, the stockings are empty, still hanging by the Christmas tree, their contents now safely in the hands of those who welcomed the birth of Jesus and the coming of St. Nicholas, the children are playing with their new toys, forgetting the visions of sugar plums for the moment with Mamma in her ‘kerchief and Papa in his cap. The words are an adaptation of Clement Clarke Moore’s classic poem “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” and somehow, appropriate for today.

And to finish off the Christmas list we rolled out on Christmas Eve last Friday, here are the final five of 10 wishes we’re praying for as the start of the New Year is just around the corner.

• For weightlifting and boxing to remain in the Olympic calendar. Both sports have been called “the problem children” of the Olympic movement by IOC president Thomas Bach and are in danger of exclusion from the calendar of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics if they fail to institute reforms in their conduct of competitions. It would be devastating for the Philippines if the sports are delisted. Weightlifting has brought the only gold medal for the country in Olympic history and boxing has produced eight of the 14 total medals. In the collection are five silver medals, one from weightlifting and four from boxing. Officials of the international federations governing both sports must act now before it’s too late. The initial calendar of the 2028 Olympics will be approved by the IOC in February with weightlifting and boxing excluded but they will be considered for re-inclusion during another IOC assembly in 2023.

• For Gilas to go full blast in preparing for the SEA Games in May, FIBA Asia Cup in July,  Asian Games in September and the 2023 FIBA World Cup via six qualifying windows starting in February. Coach Tab Baldwin will rely on a core to play in the coming tournaments and likely reinforce the nucleus with key pieces whenever possible. A key piece would be Jordan Clarkson and the hope is FIBA will finally allow the Utah Jazz sixth man to play for Gilas as a local, not as a naturalized import. If Clarkson is given the go-signal sooner than later, it will open the door for SBP to recruit a new naturalized import – maybe Justin Brownlee? Other reinforcements could come from the PBA.

• For the country’s premier Olympic athletes to get even better in preparing for the 2024 Paris Games. Gymnast Caloy Yulo and pole vaulter EJ Obiena are at the top of the list. Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz will assess whether or not to compete in her fifth Olympics after she performs at the SEA and Asian Games. Boxers Eumir Marcial, Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio are also in the cast of the marquee athletes all of whom participated in the Tokyo Olympics. Let’s hope that they are spared from intrigue, political distractions and dwindling focus for whatever reason in bringing more honor to the country.

• For socio-economic conditions to normalize in overcoming the pandemic and to bring back more live audience capacity for sporting events. At the current Alert Level 2 for NCR Plus, the capacity is up to 50 percent for a live audience to enjoy PBA games. As the situation stabilizes, perhaps the capacity could be raised to 75 percent and eventually, 100 percent. The wish applies to every sporting event, including the competitions in the UAAP and NCAA which will restart their seasons, possibly in February. The Philippines will participate in its first FIBA World Cup qualifying window in February under a bubble setup at Clark but in 2023, let’s hope it will be 100 percent capacity for the World Cup.

• For EASL to launch its inaugural season in October with an unrestricted home-and-away format. Eight teams will play six regular season games each on the way to the Final Four and the championship game for a $1 million first prize in March 2023. The PBA will send two squads to battle contenders from Japan, Korea and Greater China in the regional joust that is expected to create waves throughout the world.

We wish everyone a wonderful Season of Joy.