Overcoming the odds

If there ever was an individual who is as passionate about sports and in using athletic disciplines as the bedrock for the development of character and an avenue to building a strong and healthy nation, that gentleman is the esteemed businessman-sportsman Manny Pangilinan.
His commitment to sports is becoming legendary. But let us hasten to make it clear that we don’t view this from the narrow perspective of the assignment of resources. More importantly, let’s view it from the sense of commitment to do what is right and within a framework of integrity, sportsmanship and fair play.
It’s been said time and again that MVP is truly our country’s Most Valuable Person in sports and one that has extended his value to the broader horizons of business and industry.
His unflinching faith in the Filipino and his ability to face up to seemingly insurmountable odds and challenges reflect a resolute spirit that is inherent in the Filipino.
While there are many who seek to belittle our chances in international basketball  because of the handicap in height and heft, Pangilinan believes that innate skill, a resolute development program and the fighting heart of the Filipino is capable of challenging, if not overcoming the odds.
For, indeed, what would life be without challenges that are infinitely sweeter to overcome as our gallant Smart Gilas basketball team has proven in the ongoing Fiba Asia Men’s Championship where the finest teams in the region chase one Olympic qualifying berth.
When one thinks of the billions who follow the game and indeed the millions who play basketball in our region we wonder whether the international governing body for basketball—Fiba—has been fair in allocating only one berth for the Asian champion in the 2012 London Olympics. This issue is for discussion at some other time and in a different circumstance.
In Wuhan, the Philippines was clearly undermined by an erroneous interpretation of Fiba’s internal rules on the eligibility of players whose citizenship was guaranteed under the Philippine constitution but was questioned by the Lebanese and was supported in a somewhat incoherent manner by the Fiba Asia deputy secretary general who, incidentally, is a Lebanese.
It took MVP all the coolness he could muster and the passion he could summon to convince Fiba secretary general Patrick Baumann to serve the cause of Philippine basketball at the very least and to put some sanity into what we contend was the irrational logic—if ever there was logic—behind the position of the Fiba Asia deputy secretary general.
Excerpts of a letter Mr. Pangilinan emailed to Mr. Baumann provides a touching insight into the mind and the measure of the man that is MVP.
“I write to make one final appeal to you—beyond the legal and technical issues under consideration, and from the broader perspective of Philippine basketball, and its future. We are both aware about the gap between Philippine laws on citizenship and the Fiba rules relevant to eligibility. It is not the moment here to rehash the arguments of both sides.”
MVP ended with a personal appeal. “It has been a little over five years since my involvement began somewhat reluctantly with the basketball NSA.  I don’t need to chronicle the pain and effort we all went through these years—of which you were a witness, and sometimes an unfortunate target. We have come some ways since then; but I will admit we do have some ways to go.
“It would be a real setback for Philippine basketball if our Smart Gilas team were to be weakened considerably with the disqualification of these two players (Marcio Lassiter and Chris Lutz). Conversely, it will be a considerable boost to the program if they can play, and help our team improve its standing on the global stage.
“I still remember and will never forget the remark you made to me in Bangkok about four years ago.  You reminded me that our National Team will likely not make it to the Olympics until 2016, maybe at the earliest.  While I will be the last to admit that I agree with your observation, I remain an idealist, but without any illusion. 2012 or 2016 or even 2020, we will continue to do our best, try our hardest, dream the highest.”