MANILA, Philippines—All non-performing national sports associations (NSA) should brace for rougher times ahead.

Philippine Sports Commission chair William “Butch” Ramirez is calling for a radical change after the Beijing Olympics as the government sports agency vowed to cut financial assistance to NSAs with poor track records.

“Radical changes should be made if we want to accomplish something,” said Ramirez Tuesday in an overseas telephone interview.

“From now on, those NSAs that will not cooperate will be forced to get funding somewhere else,” he added.

Ramirez said the PSC would focus on 10 priority sports, which, the agency feels, have strong medal chances in the next Olympics.

Among the priority disciplines are boxing, taekwondo, shooting, archery, and weightlifting. Olympic mandatory sports athletics and swimming are also included.

“We are held responsible for the money that we give the NSAs and we will make sure the financial support will not go to waste,” said Ramirez.

Without naming the associations, the PSC top honcho lambasted the leaders of non-performing NSAs, saying they should be accountable to the public funds they spend.

“Matuto naman silang mahiya sa bayan (They should learn to be ashamed to the country),” said Ramirez.

Ramirez will convene the PSC-Philippine Olympic Committee core group composed of the top officials of both organizations as soon as the delegation returns from Beijing.

The PSC chief also said he is prepared to go head-on with NSA heads if they pick on his agency for withholding financial assistance.

“I don’t care what the NSAs will say,” said Ramirez. “I only care about the athletes and the country’s sports program.”

“Instead of financially supporting non-performing NSAs, the PSC will divert the money to grassroots development and strengthen the sports institute.”

From among the NSAs in the Olympics, boxing turned out to be the biggest flop.

Expected to deliver a medal, light flyweight Harry Tañamor bombed out right in his first fight after losing to Manyo Plange of Ghana.

Tañamor, the reigning world championship silver medalist, handily lost to the lesser-known African fighter despite being trained by a pair of Cuban coaches and supported lavishly by the PSC and telecommunications giant Smart/PLDT.

The Philippines, which sent 15 athletes to Beijing, is still without a medal with the Games just four days away from its conclusion and is hoping for a breakthrough from taekwondo-jins Tshomlee Go and Marie Antoinette Rivero.