As a longtime billiards fan, I suppose I can make a suggestion.
To end once and for all the leadership issue now bugging the embattled Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines, the athletes who brought honor to the country should select the officials of the BSCP.
In this way, those elected will truly represent the billiards stakeholders and not just any Tom, Dick and Harry. Those qualified to vote should be medal winners in the Asian Games, the Southeast Asian Games and the other recognized international events.
Among them are Efren ?Bata? Reyes, Marlon Manalo, Francisco ?Django? Bustamante, Roberto Gomez, Antonio Lining, Warren Kiamco, Gandy Valle, Romeo Villanueva, Lee Van Corteza, Benjamin Guevarra Jr., James Ortega, Felipe Tauro Jr., Reynaldo Grandea, Joven Alba, Luis Saberdo, Leonardo Andam, Victor Arpilleda, Florencio Banar, Jose Dacer, Jose Uy Jr., Alex Pagulayan, Ronnie Alcano, Dennis Orcollo, Rodolfo Luat, Ramil Gallego, women players Rubilen Amit, Iris Rañola, Mary Ann Basas and former Philippine champion, the ageless and now US-based Jose ?Amang? Parica, who led the Filipinos? invasion of the rich American circuit.
I say this to save our country from losing face in the international billiards scene. Besides, no sports leader has prevailed over the athletes in any dispute because the athletes are the ones earning medals, not the sports officials.
During the Marcos regime when Gintong Alay head Michael Keon insisted that fabled runner Lydia de Vega compete for Gintong Alay without her father-coach (Tatang de Vega), Marcos intervened and allowed Lydia?s father to go and join her. The result: Lydia won gold medals for our country.
This time, the Philippine Olympic Committee executive board has stepped into the billiards leadership issue. In a letter to the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines, the POC said it had decided not to recognize any of the contending groups while the leadership issue is unsettled. The POC added that in order ?to protect the interest of the athletes, it has created a Special Committee to attend to their needs until final resolution of the dispute.?
Meanwhile, the country?s top men and women players recently trooped to the POC and filed a letter of complaint that also sought the resignation of BSCP officials, principally president Ernesto Fajardo and chair Yen Makabenta.
The women players complained of verbal abuse and maltreatment by BSCP officials, saying they were dropped from the Philippine team and stripped of their training allowances from the Philippine Sports Commission after the BSCP failed to endorse them to the PSC.
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CONGRATULATIONS to veterans Emmanuel Reyes and Maira Rosete for topping the recent 2009 Dance Sport Council of the Philippines? Milo-PSC Cup 1st quarter ranking and competition at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
The Reyes-Rosete tandem won the gold medal in the Grade A Standard category of the blue-ribbon event sponsored by Milo, PSC, POC, Department of Tourism, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Pagcor, Water Zone, Savannah Moon, NU107, Studio 116, Zen Institute, Muebles Italiano, Mia Restaurant Bar Dance Café and Andrea D. Domingo. My hats off too to TOYM (Ten Outstanding Young Men) executive director Larry Cruz, franchise owner of Country Style, a popular coffee and donut house, at SM Marilao, for having in his employ friendly, efficient and courteous staff headed by Teresita Metrillo, Christopher Angeles, Migs Salvador and JM Cruz. A warm hello also to Abigael Marasigan for her kind words to the Inquirer.
