PSAA: a new challenge

There is a young sports league that this writer is now a part of to fulfill my vow to help Philippine sports in general and basketball in particular grow in whatever way I can: The Philippine Schools Athletic Association or PSAA. The league shows tremendous promise in developing the youth of our country, and providing a pathway for them to better themselves and their lives, by giving them a school-based platform to elevate their game and learn fair play.

When founder Fernando “Butz” Arimado first approached me about the idea, I knew time was short to decide whether or not to accept my first role as commissioner. But seeing the growth of his other league, the National Youth Basketball League (NYBL) and talking with the people around him, I realized that we share the same deep passion and gratitude for the sport. Add to this the ringing endorsement of my good friend Nino “Coach Daddy” Sapalo, and it was a no-brainer. So here we go.

In 40 years as a sports journalist, and more than 50 years’ involvement, I have always been on the other side of the fence, unlike my dear departed friend Chino Trinidad, who was a force of nature with the old Philippine Basketball League (PBL), I wanted to be on the side of oversight, vigilant against the proclivities of people who had their own agenda and used sports mainly for financial gain. But it is also extremely difficult to change the system from without, so it was time to jump in with both feet.

The PSAA’s first mission is simple on paper: organize, manage and sustain a sports league that is professionally run and fair to all stakeholders, providing a stable platform for youth sports, beginning with basketball. This early, we are already in discussions to expand to volleyball and (by popular demand) badminton. It is a community worth attaching your name to, as I just have.

PSAA is not a business. It is a commitment, an advocacy. We hope to craft a template for youth to open doors for themselves through sports. Athletes can earn scholarships, and blaze other trails for themselves for their future and for their families. It is something we have strongly believed in.

So now, I ask for your help. This is not for myself. This is to give back in return for what sports has done for me my entire life. We have always believed in inclusion, and the purity of the game. If we work together, we can build something lasting for our children’s children and beyond, no matter where they are.

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Catch this week’s episodes of Basketball Universe PHL and Secret Sports Stories online. We have also launched a new series of shorts to help enlighten and bridge the gaps between parents and children, based on both my good and bad experiences as a father for 36 years. Believe me, I’ve learned from all the mistakes one could possibly commit as a Dad. “Parental Guidance” releases new episodes twice a week on Facebook and YouTube.