Sports issues we face

WE’VE ALREADY seen six months of 2014 slip by. Summer breezed in so swiftly and we’re already dealing with the rains and floods and what to do for the second half of the year.

Philippine sports faces several interesting and intriguing issues that need the attention of decision-makers in the months ahead.  The objective of this piece is to consider some points as performance indicators are measured and reviewed. Here are some:

The 2014 Incheon Asian Games— It’s natural to ask for a prediction as to how many gold medals the Philippine team can squeeze out of the difficult Asiad competition. But rather than simply predict a specific number, an option for leaders might be to break down possibilities per sport.

How many medals should we realistically expect from boxing given the competition from China, South Korea and Thailand? What are the possibilities for the athletics team compared to other Asian powers?

Continuously asking sports officials for a number of gold medals and holding them to it might be a really tough standard. Choosing specific sports and measuring performance could be beneficial in the long run for Filipino athletes and for improving programs.

What to do after Gilas Pilipinas 2014 stints—The PBA has done its share for Gilas this year by again lending its players and shortening its schedule to accommodate the team’s World Championship and Asian Games stints. But will this be a trend in the future? The euphoria of the silver medal in the Fiba Asia last year has understandably compelled the pro league to pitch in anew for the national cause this 2014.

Perhaps this is really the way to go, where the professional players are the core of the national team. The United States basketball program for international competition has clearly gone in that direction, even if college coaches take the lead in running teams.

There are mixed opinions on this but continued enthusiastic support of the pro league by fans may hinge on how much the pro players participate in international basketball.

Keeping football in the limelight —The World Cup football games have clearly sparked continued interest in the sport. Fanatics and experts have had a field day explaining the nuances to those who are just beginning to learn the sport. Many females have suddenly found the players appealing and interesting. I’m sure that you have female Facebook friends who have posted a note or two about their favorites.