Ortuoste, Garcia, Polican cast adrift from their college teams

This appears on philstar.com

Ortuoste, Garcia, Polican cast adrift from their college teams

by rick olivares

With the summer basketball leagues ready to tip off, some familiar faces are finding themselves not only without a team but also without a school.

Jamil Ortuoste who ran the point for San Sebastian the past three seasons will now concentrate on getting his degree from Business Management and try to latch on to a D-League team. According to new San Sebastian Stags coach Edgar Macaraya who we contacted to clear the air, “Ortuoste will just concentrate on finishing his studies as he is graduating.”

Ortuoste says while getting his diploma is important, so is playing out his final year. “Kaso na-cut ako sa team kasi yung ibang subject ko nagsabay sa oras ng practice,” clarified the 24-year old from Antipolo City. “Tapos tinanggal yung mga allowances ko at yung lugar ko sa dorm.”

Not too far away from the Recto campus of San Sebastian, Adamson University cast adrift some key players from their squad. Center-forward Ivan Villanueva, shooting guard Jerome Garcia, and point guard William Polican have all been cut. According to new head coach Franz Pumaren, the players “we feel are having a hard time adjusting to our new system.”

Garcia, who up to recently was training with the squad thought otherwise, “Hindi naman siguro ako nahirapan kasi at that time, first five pa niya (Pumaren) ako. Pero siguro ganyan po ang tingin niya at least binigay ko yung best ko. Nahihirapan talaga ako tanggapin nung tinanggal nila ako kasi last two years ko na lang sa Adamson. Sa tingin ko na-cut kami para sa mga recruit nila at sa mga Fil-Am."

Like Ortuoste, Garcia and his former Adamson teammates also lost their scholarships. 

Garcia’s father, Jerry, who works with the telecasts of the Philippine Basketball Association as a part of the technical coverage of TV5 was upset with the cancellation of the scholarship. “Ang hirap naman ng ganyan,” angrily expressed Garcia’s father. Paano niya tatapusin yung pagaaral niya? Hindi naman ganun kadali maglipat or kung mag-offer man ng scholarship. Sana sinabi nalang nila nung na-recruit nila anak ko na tatanggalin nila scholarship niya kung sakali wala na siya sa team. Tiyak na hindi kami magpupunta diyan.”

Garcia waited for several years before he moved up to Adamson's Team A. He was on Team B under Leo Austria, Kenneth Duremdes, and Mike Fermin before moving up. "Sayang," was all the elder Garcia could say at the sudden turn of events.

Ortuoste will be trying out for Caida Tiles in the D-League while Jerome Garcia and Ivan Villanueva are currently playing in the Millennium Basketball League.



------------------------------------

Personally, if a coach wants to cut a player I am fine with it. However, I do not believe that a scholarship should be taken away. He should be allowed to finish school. Now if they want to transfer then that's their lookout. HAVING SAID THAT, THE FAMILY OF THE PLAYER SHOULD BE INFORMED OF THAT AT THE TIME OF RECRUITMENT. THEY SHOULD EVEN SIGN A DOCUMENT. LET'S SEE IF A RECRUIT WILL COMMIT TO SOMETHING LIKE THAT. 

JUST TO BE VERY CLEAR, THAT ISN'T DIRECTED TO COACH EGAY OR COACH FRANZ BUT SCHOOL ATHLETIC PROGRAMS. FURTHERMORE, THE TWO OF THEM DIDN'T RECRUIT THE AFOREMENTIONED PLAYERS. NEVERTHELESS, THEY SHOULD ALSO ASSIST IN FINDING WHAT IS BEST FOR THEM. 

New coaches in Filoil Flying V Premier Cup spotlight

This appears on philstar.com

New coaches in Filoil Flying V Premier Cup spotlight

by rick olivares

The summer basketball leagues are oft about the rookies paraded by the participating teams. However, on Opening day for the 10th staging of the Filoil Flying V Premier Cup this April 30, it will also be about the new faces calling the shots.

In Group A of the seniors division, two coaches will be making their school debut — Edgar Macaraya with San Sebastian and Bo Perasol with the University of the Philippines. It should be noted that both played for their respective teams during their collegiate playing years.

Macaraya was a part of those great Stags teams of the 1980s that included Paul Alvarez, Eugene Quilban, and Melchor Teves among others. The deadeye shooter played for Magnolia and Triple V in the now defunct Philippine Amateur Basketball League and with Swift’s and Sta. Lucia in the PBA. Most recently, Macaraya piloted the Centro Escolar University Scorpions to three consecutive NAASCU championships from 2013-15. He also piloted the Cafe France Bakers to the D-League Foundation Cup during the 2014-15 season.

Perasol, most recently head coach of the Ateneo Blue Eagles from 2013-15, returns to UP to take over from Rensy Bajar. Perasol played for the Fighting Maroons from 1990-94. During his three-year stint with Ateneo, Perasol compiled a 27-18 and led the Blue Eagles to two Final Four appearances where they fell to the eventual champions, NU and FEU respectively in the last two campaigns.

Over at Group B, taking over the Adamson Falcons is new head coach Franz Pumaren who inherits a talented but young squad from interim head coach Mike Fermin. Pumaren, who won five UAAP titles with La Salle looks to bring his brand of pressure defense and recruiting savvy to the San Marcelino side.

National team head coach Tab Baldwin takes over from Perasol over at Ateneo where he hopes to bring his wealth of experience and knowledge to a young Ateneo team that begins the new season without any remnants from its five-peats squads from 2008-12. Kiefer Ravena, Von Pessumal, and Gwyne Capacio were the last holdovers from those title teams.

De La Salle will not only finally get to parade much ballyhooed African Ben Mbala but also a new coach in Aldin Ayo who led Letran to the NCAA title last season. Ayo will be the first non-La Salle alumnus to coach the team since Pilo Pumaren left UE for Taft in the early 1980s. He also won a championship while playing for Letran.

Taking over as Letran’s coach is former NU Bullpups head coach and Bulldogs player Jeff Napa who steered the former to three UAAP Juniors championships including the Season 78 crown that was annexed at the expense of the De La Salle Zobel Junior Archers. Napa hopes to continue the smothering defensive style of Letran; one that they also played at NU.

“It would be interesting to see the impact of these coaches in their new setting,” said Filoil Flying V Premier Cup Commissioner Renato “Ato” Badolato. “I think the quality of the coaches now in the amateur ranks will certainly improve the level of the games and make their different leagues very exciting. It’s also good that the fans pay some attention to the coaches and not just the players.”

The 10th staging of the Filoil Flying V Premier Cup tips off at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan (formerly the San Juan Arena) this coming April 30, 2016. Tickets may be purchased at the gate or at SM Ticketnet branches.

Danny Ward's Liverpool debut vs Bournemouth

Of the Liverpool players who set foot at the Vitality Stadium during the 2-1 win over Bournemouth, vying for Man of the Match were Daniel Sturridge, Jordon Ibe, Joe Allen, and Danny Ward who made in his Liverpool debut.

Sturridge, who was a nightmare for Cherries defenders, should have scored at least two more goals. Alas, he was a little wasteful with superb chances even with the keeper beaten. Ibe was involved with both Liverpool goals and deserves mention. Allen wreaked havoc on Bournemouth’s midfielders and attacks with his marauding role that kept Bournemouth back pedalling for much of the first 60 minutes. Ward on the other hand, was superb and saved the game for Liverpool.

He’s listed with three saves but the Welshman showed great instincts, a quickness of mind and hands, and decisiveness. The manner in which he quickly surveyed the field and put the ball into play served Liverpool well and had Bournemouth quickly retreating. That means he has good vision and makes good reads. Good qualities I’d say a darn good goalkeeper must posses. 

This past season while minding the nets of Aberdeen (second in the Scottish Premier League), Ward played in 23 matches in all competitions conceding 21 goals but saving 72 shots. He also had 12 clean sheets.

And he nearly had one in his Liverpool debut, but Josh King was allowed to turn and fire a shot that dipped under Ward who nearly blocked the powerful shot. 

King had three very good attempts but Ward saved two big shots including the misplay by central back Mamadou Sakho that allowed the Cherries’ forward to race forward. Sakho was still able to get a block on the shot but it was spiralling towards the net when Ward threw up a hand to deflect it.

 

And in the first half, there was that great read on the header by Mark Pugh.

It would have been nice to have a clean sheet but Ward’s performance was plenty good enough to warrant another shot at starting for the Reds.

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Here are some highlights from Danny Ward's stint with Aberdeen before he was recalled by Liverpool.

Filipina taekwondo jin Pauline Lopez crashes out of Olympic contention

Pauline Lopez moments before entering for her match against Malaysia's Alisa Roslan.

This appears on abs-cbnnews.com

Pauline Lopez crashes out of Olympic taekwondo contention

by rick olivares

The packed Marriott Grand Ballroom egged on taekwondo jin Pauline Lopez on but the captivating 19-year old from Los Angeles, California, fell to Thai champion Phannapa Harnsujin.

Lopez, the last Filipino standing in the Asian Taekwondo Olympic Qualifiers after Butch Morrison and Kristoffer Uy crashed out, was unable to join fellow female jin Elaine Alora for the trip to Rio, Brazil this August.

The diminutive and exciting Lopez, earlier defeated Malaysia’s Nurul Farah Alisa Roslan in the female 57 kilogram class, 4-2, to enter the semifinals against Harnsujin, a multiple gold medal winner. The Thai also most recently brought home a silver and a bronze medal in the two tournaments she took part in this calendar year — a silver in the US Open Taekwondo Championships in Reno, Nevada; and a bronze in the Fujairah Open in Malaysia. 

The Filipina was mostly the aggressor throughout the match but it was the Thai who scored first on a head kick in the first round, 3-0. Lopez tried to cut the deficit in the second but was unable to tack on a single point.

Harnsujin scored on a punch in the third and final round to give herself a little more cushion and placing more pressure on Lopez to catch up. The Filipina scored on a pair of punches to cut the lead in half. However the Thai lass was able to add another point with a kick to the body to make it, 5-2. With time furiously running out and in dire need of a head kick to send the fight to a fourth round and a golden point, the Thai danced away and fended off the last ditch attacks until the final whistle.

“Pauline was good but we saw her opponent was very good defensively,” analyzed former national player Jobet Morales of the match. “As soon as she saw Pauline get ready for a kick, she was ready to block and try to score on a counter attack. The head kick in the first round that scored was big for the Thai and being unable to score in the second round hurt. That forces you to change your gameplan a bit because you have to score points in a hurry. Not our day but we will be back.”

A visibly disappointed Lopez vowed to be back, “She (referring to Harnsujin) is good and that is why she is a multiple winner. I’ll learn from this and do better next time.”

Former national team head coach Rocky Samson who was competitions manager for the tournament, lamented the “unluckiness” of most of the Filipino athletes who competed in this Olympic Qualifiers.

“The Filipino athlete shows that he or she can compete. The final score will say that we lost but there is so much more that needs to be communicated,” noted Samson. “Take for example Kristoffer Uy, he lost on a golden point. Butch Morrison was leading all throughout and put on a beating on Liu Wei-Ting (the Taiwanese fighter) who is a current world champion and one of the best in the game now. Butch was unluckily hit; he was able to evade the kick but it grazed him for big points that saw the result slip away from him. And now, Pauline.”

“Definitely, we are getting better. But we must continuously build from these gains. With the support we are getting from our sponsors like Smart, it is good. But we are just as disappointed as our fighters that we will be unable to send anymore athletes outside Elaine Alora to Rio."

Choosing my UEFA Champions League XI (via CNN International)

Four things to take from Ateneo’s Final Four win over UP

This appears in the Monday, April 18, 2016 edition of the Business Mirror.

Four things to take from Ateneo’s Final Four win over UP

by rick olivares

The Ateneo Lady Eagles are back in the UAAP Finals for the fifth straight year following a three-set sweep over UP in the Final Four. Am I surprised at how they did it? Not really. I was more shocked at how they responded to the loss to La Salle at the end of the first round with how they came out against UP to kick off the second round.

At that time, I questioned even the preparation of the coaching staff that I felt had gotten lax and too overconfident. The losses sure brought them back to earth and put a lot of things in perspective.

Having said that, here are my thoughts from the Ateneo-UP Final Four encounter.

The return of an old reliable — defense.

I think this year because Ateneo has had more more and reliable attacking options, it superseded their defense. Or even perceptions of their defense. It is justifiably so since the Lady Eagles were down in their receiving and digging. 

However, even before the back-to-back losses that are since a distant memory, they were at 6-0. You don’t just go 6-0 without playing some defense. They were just conceding more points than they did last year.

In fact, their last two matches — against La Salle and UP — that ironically avenged their two mid-season losses in order showcased their floor and net defense of which they were superb the previous season.

The blocking show that was on display against UP was how they have played since Season 77. 

There’s a difference between consistency and experience.

It is said that UP’s inexperience showed in the Final Four. That they are too young.

Agreed to an extent. I believe more appropriately, they were what they were all season long — inconsistent (save for Nicole Tiamzon who in my opinion is not only underrated but is one of the most efficient players in the league). Not to take away anything from the Lady Maroons, they are a much better team than the previous campaigns. They are an exciting squad loaded with wonderful talent and with so much promise. And for sure they will learn from this Final Four defeat.

To explain the inconsistency, UP finished 8-6; good for fourth. They finished 4-3 and 4-3 in the first and second rounds. In each round, they had that one huge win — NU in the first and Ateneo to start the second. There was that win over UST that preceded the NU win for a three-game stretch where people took even bigger notice that they were legitimate contenders. Having said that, were they consistent in their

However, they started the season poorly and towards the end of the second round, they had hit the wall and stopped playing well. Yes, there’s the big win over UST to close out the elimination round but the Golden Tigresses are vastly inconsistent.

Some point out that Ateneo has its championship experience to draw on. My response is they aren’t exactly a team loaded from top to bottom with seasoned vets.

Let’s break it down in terms of playing years (not academic years):

Valdez - 5th year

Ahomiro - 5th year

Maraguinot - 2nd year 

Morado - 3rd year

Tan - 4th year

De Leon - 2nd year

Gequillana - 3rd year

Madayag - 2nd year

Gequillana got playing time during her first year in Season 76 but didn’t play much in her second year as her position was crowded by Michelle Morente and Maraguinot. Madayag got very little playing time during her freshman year while Gizelle Tan hardly hardly played all these years. Her V-League stint was the first ever meaningful time she’s played. So only five players had significant playing time last season and that’s Valdez, Ahomiro, De Leon, Morado, and Maraguinot.

And UP featured five players — Bersola, Tiamzon, Gaiser, Lai, and Buitre — who gained significant exposure in S77. All figured prominently in their campaign this season too.

Bersola - 4th year

Tiamzon - 4th year

Gaiser - 4th year

Lai - 2nd year

Molde - 1st year

Carlos - 1st year

Estrañero - 2nd year

Dorog - 1st year

Buitre - 2nd year

In Season 74, Ateneo finished second to La Salle with an 11-3 record. They shocked DLSU with a Game 1 win in the Finals before they lost the next three. Supposedly with that lineup, they gained experience, but in S75, they finished second at 10-4 and were bounced in the Finals two straight by La Salle with the second match, a three-set sweep.

By S76, they lost the core of that team — five players, four who were full-time starters. With a bunch of players who were either rookies (Morente and Morado) or didn’t play much (Ahomiro and Ella De Jesus), they won the championship. So it doesn’t follow that age = experience. 

I prefer to believe that when you are consistent (in your recruiting, training, and performance) then you can push matters onto the next level. Take for example, La Salle. How many years running have they made the Final Four if not the Finals? If any team has been the model of consistency through the years it has been them. 

And that leads to the next point.

The value of a good coach.

I think that what Anusorn Bundit has done for the Lady Eagles has been overlooked. It isn’t solely the training. It’s also the mental fortitude. A NU official told me the other day (during the DLSU-NU second round match), “Tai looked at the league and spat in their eye. Aside from the mental strength, he  did something that is so basic and forced everyone else to follow — fitness and conditioning — now you have teams training twice a day and so on.”

Spot on.

You remember how Michael Jordan would say that the constant hard practices make the game easy? Said Bea De Leon, “The practices are so hard that we hate it. We feel more relaxed and would rather play two UAAP games in a day rather than practice."

On the other side, I think UP’s Jerry Yee is a refreshing change from the other coaches who always get mad and yell. He can be sarcastic but not in a rude way. If the moment wasn’t dire, I’d have a laugh. He uses that sarcasm in a calm manner to get his point across. Then in a few words says what needs to be done. His recruiting and training have been marvelous for State U. Expect more things from Yee and his girls.

The sindak factor.

During PBA matches, when the Star Hotshots (or whatever name they go by after each conference) would play, when star shooting guard James Yap makes these incredible shots where he’s falling or fading out bounds or when he has a hand right in his face I think it’s time to pack it in because no way are they going to lose. 

You know that when Steph Curry is hitting long range bombs from beyond area code range then G-State will be tough to defeat.

Same with the Lady Eagles.

During the second set, there was that one-handed set by Jia Morado for a Bea De Leon quick strike for an Ateneo point. And that was followed by a broken play and a series of two free balls given by Ateneo where they converted both. The three points gave Ateneo a 20-13 lead (if I am not mistaken). It was definitely a wow moment and it spurred them on to take that second set. And then the third set.

Now they’re back in the Finals.

At the Asian Taekwondo Qualifiers for the 2016 Rio Olympics

Nope. Not selfie time but taking a vid of a fight.

Elaine Alora books the Philippines’ first taekwondo slot to the 2016 Rio Olympics (with video)

This appears on abs-cbnnews.com

Elaine Alora books the Philippines’ first taekwondo slot to the 2016 Rio Olympics

by rick olivares

It was a classic David versus Goliath match. Except this was the female of the species.

It was Iran’s 6’1” Akram Khodabandeh, a multiple medalist who stood in the way of the Philippines' Elaine Alora and a berth to the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics in the Female +67 kg category. However, Alora, herself a multiple medalist, used her speed and quickness to offset the height and reach advantage in a brilliant 10-3 win with a raucous crowd cheering her on at the Marriott Grand Ballroom in Pasay City.

Alora kept her distance and quickly pounced in when Khodabandeh missed a kick. Her first three points were all from linear kicks. Her head kick in the third round created more space and only made the Iranian reckless in her attacks that led to more points for the Filipina.

Earlier, Alora blanked Nepalese counterpart Nisha Rewal, 9-0, in an impressive display of offense and counter-attacking.  

“I think what helped was a very good game plan,” said the 26-year old lass from Biñan, Laguna. “We studied how to counter the size advantage of our opponents and just really used my speed and quickness. Coach Japoy (Lizardo) said that I must be also quick in my thinking on the floor. It’s an incredible feeling to be going to the Olympics but on the other hand, I feel sad that Butch (Morisson) and Kristofer (Uy) didn’t make it.

Morrison booked a quarterfinals seat in Male +80 kg. class against the bemedalled Taiwanese fighter Liu Wei-Ting. The Zambales native was leading 6-3 in the final round when Lui landed two head kicks that sent the crowd favorite crashing out of the tournament.

“It’s disappointing,” was all a disconsolate Morrison could say after the match. 

Kristoffer Uy lost via Golden Point, 7-6, to Palestinian Bahri Tanrikulu in the opening round. 

"We are very blessed with this ticket to the Olympics care of Elaine,” said Philippine National Training Team Director Igor Mella. “It is a well-deserved victory. All through the rounds against a multiple medalist Elaine remained very confident and focused. The head kick that she threw against the Iranian? That was coming. In fact, Elaine is know for those. During the 2013 Southeast Asian Games, she knocked out a six-foot tall Cambodian using a very difficult jumping turning kick in the dying seconds of the third round."

"Elaine she knows when to come in and when to pull out and kick at an opponent. That was the strategy, to stay on the opponent. After all, Elaine being 5’7”, we expect that all her opponents are taller.”

As of press time, Alora was fighting for the gold medal in her category.

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Here's the third round!

And the Philippines has two for golf in Rio

This appears on rappler.com

And the Philippines has two for golf in Rio

by rick olivares

The International Golf Federation (IGF) updated their men’s rankings for Olympic Qualification last April 11. And in the list of the 60 participants who will be partaking in the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics this August are Miguel Tabuena and Angelo Que.

Tabuena is ranked #36 while Que is listed at #49. The former raised his ranking from #52 from a few months ago to three spots ahead. 

The International Olympic Committee has restricted the IGF to an Olympic field of 60 players each for the men’s and women’s competition. The top 15 players in the world are eligible but are limited to four per country. Beyond the top 15, players are eligible to compete in the Olympics based on their ranking with a maximum of two eligible players from each country that does not have two or more among the top 15.

The golf competition will be played at the newly-built Campo Olimpico de Golfe that is located at the Marapendi Natural Reserve in the Barra da Tijuca and Recreio neighbourhoods of Rio de Janeiro. The area was established for the preservation of native plants and animals. 

The Rio Summer Games marks the first time in 112 years that golf will be played in the Olympics. The last time golf was played was in 1904 with the United States winning the gold while Canada took the silver, and Great Britain, the bronze. 

The 2016 Olympic Golf Competition is scheduled for August 11-14 and 17-20.

Bata & Django to play Bilibid’s best

A prison guard takes on an inmate in one of the many billiards tables inside the New Bilibid prison.

Bata & Django to play Bilibid’s best

by rick olivares

On April 23, 2016, world-class Filipino billiards players Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes and Django Bustamente will go up against “tough” opponents they have not faced in their lifetime… the top cue artists of the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa. 

Under the auspices of the Philippine Sports Commission, a Sports and Recreation Office (SARO) has been established inside the maximum security prison is currently home to over 15,000 inmates from all over the country who are incarcerated for murder, drugs, rape and other heinous crimes. 

SARO conducts sports programs ranging from tennis to billiards to badminton to chess with futsal on the drawing board.

PSC Commissioner Jose “Jolly” Gomez said that the billiards tournament involving Reyes and Bustamante was a long time coming. “We planned that some time ago but we could never put it together until now.”

“Basically, the winners of the prison-wide billiards tournament will have the enviable opportunity to play two of the best ever to play the game,” succinctly pointed out Gomez. 

“Many inmates who are serving life sentences while away their long and uneventful days playing billiards and other games. They have forgotten all their dreams. For one day, we hope to make their dreams come true and that is meeting these legends of Philippine sports.”

SARO director Anthony Omega said that the sports programs (that augment the traditional basketball tournaments) have greatly helped in the rehabilitation of the inmates as it promotes fitness and well-being as well as sportsmanship. “Before we had these sports programs, the inmates would sit around and do nothing. And the idleness sometimes leads to bad things. Sports has given everyone a reason to stay busy outside their prison chores. it has given them fitness and confidence. And it helps in their rehabilitation.”

“Having Efren and Django here will really boost their spirits and give people some hope that they can be someone and do something positive in spite of what they have done in the past."

Inside Bilibid Prison, sports means life. And hope.

Informal poll taken inside the New Bilibid Prison (36 respondents): Fave PBA team - Ginebra; Fave NBA team - Golden State Warriors; Prettiest Filipinas (tied) Pia Wurtzbach and Marian Rivera. 

Marlon Cabullon serves. Tennis at the Maximum Tennis Club inside the New Bilibid prison in Muntinlupa.

This appears on rappler.com

Inside Bilibid, sports means life. And hope.

by rick olivares

With Marlon

It’s rather unusual that Cebu native Marlon Cabullon loves tennis more than basketball. The Queen City of the south has produced many a national basketball player including current PBA standout June Mar Fajardo and many other stars in sports like football and track and field. Tennis, however, held serve in Marlon’s heart. 

Marlon grew up watching German great Boris Becker in the 1980s, and on the tennis court, imitated his one-handed backhand and diving volleys. “Si Becker… grabe,” Cabullon racks his head for those memories of a simpler time. “Patay kung patay yung laro.” 

(“Becker… was something else. He played like there’s no tomorrow.”)

"Kung maglaro ako noon mula umaga hanggang hapon,” added Marlon of his love for tennis. (I would play from sunrise to sundown.)

Some 30 years after Becker’s heyday and Cabullon’s youth, the Cebuano, now older with his face lined because of age and stress and his skin bronzed from countless hours under the big bad hot sun, is still playing tennis. From morning up to sunset. 

Now he has all the time to play as he is currently incarcerated at the maximum security compound of the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa since 2007. While he isn’t in for reclusion perpetua or life imprisonment, he could be in here for anywhere between 12 -20 years for a drug offense that he doesn’t disclose the details yet admits “was a big mistake."

Suffice to say that he is moving forward from a mistake that he is paying for. The past nine years in jail have left him with many a day and night to ruminate about his poor choices and how the people you love pay for acts of stupidity.

“Nandito ako mulang umaga hanggang hapon,” emphasized New Bilibid’s tennis champion who has won many a prison tournament. “Dito sa tennis court, para ako nasa Cebu ulit. Nakakalimutan ko ang lahat. Pagbalik sa selda, napapaisip ako. Kung wala kaming sports program dito sa Bilibid ay ewan ko na kung saan ako pupulutin. Hindi ako humihingi ng simpatiya; nagkamali ako at ako’y nagbabayad.”

(I’m normally here from morning until night. Here on the tennis court, it is as if I am back in Cebu. I forget everything that has happened. For when I get back to my jail cell, I think a lot. Were it not for this sports program, I do not know what will happen to us. I am not asking for sympathy; I made a mistake and now I am paying for it.”)

Three years ago, under the auspices of the Philippine Sports Commission’s Jolly Gomez, a jail outreach program was established called, Sports and Recreational Office or SARO for short. While sports has always been a part of prison life, especially basketball, Gomez enhanced the program by organizing tennis, chess, and billiards tournaments with proper prizes while donating sports equipment. Under SARO, tennis pros like PJ Tierro and Johnny Arcilla have come over to play in doubles competition with members of the Muntinlupa Tennis Club. 

In fact, there will be an upcoming billiards tournament that will involve Efren “Bata” Reyes and Django Bustamante where the winners of the Bilibid-wide tournament will get to play the two world-class cue artists. 

Anthony Omega, New Bilibid’s Director of SARO, says the program is not only a huge hit with the 15,000-plus inmates of the prison but has helped boost morale while teaching them a lot of values. “Sa basketball,” explained Omega. “May banggaan diyan at hindi maaiwasan ang away. Walang pinagkaiba yan sa laro sa labas. Pero sa tennis, chess, badminton, at sa billiards malaking bagay yung sportsmanship lalo na kapag naglalaban yung mga iba’t ibang mga pangkat. Makita mo nagkakamayan pagkatapos ng laro. Mabuting leksyon yan. Yung iba na hindi nakakulong for life, pagdating ng panahon, ay ibababa sila sa minimum security hangga’t makalabas sila. Nakakatulong din ito sa rehabilitation ng mga inmates. Hopefully, yung lessons na nakuha nila from SARO and yung Alternative Learning System (where inmates can enrol in classes for basic English, the arts, basic computer, automotive mechanics, building construction, practical electricity, tailoring, and radio and television mechanics among others), ay makakatulong sa kanila pagnakalaya na sila.”

(“In basketball, you cannot avoid the physicality that sometimes leads to fights. There is nothing different from the way the game is played outside Bilibid. However, for tennis, chess, badminton, and billiards, they inculcate sportsmanship and that is huge here inside. You see players from the different gangs shaking hands after a match and that promotes harmony. These are good lessons. Not everyone is in here for life so for those with a chance to be down-graded into medium security with hopes of gaining a release, this will help. Hopefully, aside from SARO and the Alternative Learning System, this will help them in the next stage of their lives.)

With Max Delmo

For others like Max Delmo who is in Munti for life, sports is his way of coping with his lot. He’s in for taking part in a massacre and has been in jail since 1997. He was supposed to face the death penalty but his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. 

Delmo understands the severity of his crime and like Marlon, doesn’t ask for sympathy or forgiveness. “Kapag nandito ka na sa loob, doon mo lang malalaman kung ano yung tunay na mahalaga sa buhay mo — pamilya mo, Diyos, at trabaho. Mga tao tulad ko? Hindi ko alam kung makakalaya ako pero dito subukan ko na lang maging maayos na tao.”

(“It’s only when you’re inside prison when you realized what a mess you’ve made of your life. You realize what is essential to your life — family, God, and work. As for people like me who will probably never know freedome? All I can do it try to live the end of my days as a good person.”)

Delmo, is a Laguna native who is also the president of the Maximum Tennis Club (that was established in June of 1997 when jailed former congressman Romeo Jalosjos had the tennis court built in the compound of the Batang City Jail, one of the 12 gangs inside the prison), is grateful for tennis. It occupies his days and helps fight off stress and despair.

Today, the MTC has over 500 members who pay their membership dues (of Php150 a month that pays for the maintenance of the court and for the scorekeeper). “The payment teaches everyone responsibility,” points out Omega. 

Added Gomez, “More than anything, it gives them self-worth that they can be good at something and it builds their self-esteem.” 

On April 19, the 18th Anniversary tournament of the MTC will kick off between membership that has been divided into two teams — Team Duterte and Team Binay.

Shocked that one of the teams is named after a presidential aspirant who made a name for himself for extra-judicial killings of criminals, I inquire at the strangeness of the name.

One inmate who goes by the name of Boy (not his real name) explained it, “Napakasama ng krimen sa labas. Parang weird sabihin yan dahil mga kriminal kaming lahat dito. Pero pagkatapos mo pagisipan lahat ng mga sala mo, lahat ng mali mo, ay gusto mo magbago. Halos kaming lahat ay may pamilya sa labas. Natatakot din kami may mangyari sa mga pamilya namin. Kaya gusto rin namin gawan ng paraan ni Rody Duterte.”

(“The peace and order situation outside is really bad. It sounds weird especially since all of us here are convicts. But after you have ruminated on your mistakes and lot in life, you want to change for the better. Almost all of us have families outside and you fear for their safety. We hope that Rody Duterte can do something about it.”)

It’s a supreme and ironic statement at once. But it does show the dichotomy of life inside.

By 12 noon, after a sumptuous dinner of bangus and sinigang na baboy with the MTC, the PSC Commissioner and I prepare to leave. “Aalis na kami,” I say. Some of the inmates accompany us all the way to the gate but only up to a certain part where they are strictly forbidden to enter or loiter. 

(“We’re leaving.”)

They know they are at fault and realize that hindsight is 20/20. They see the gates open and before they shut close, they turned and walked back to their side of the prison. Hardened, jaded, there are somethings that people just do not want to see. Because that walk to freedom is a price they still have to pay for. Maybe for the rest of their lives.

It's a child's game all right. Physical abuse in Philippine collegiate sports is real.

This appears in the Wednesday, April 13, 2016 edition of the Business Mirror.

It’s a child’s game all right.

by rick olivares

Franco's team just won a game. But Franco (not his real name) was far from ecstatic. You see, he only scored eight points. 

Sounds selfish, right? That he’s looking out for personal gain rather than the sum of the parts?

The truth is… he’s scared of his father. Inside the joyous locker room, he’s subdued to the point where he seems to be troubled. There’s a slight shiver. Because of fear.

When Franco gets home, he knows he’s in for a beating. Yes, a beating from his father.

The father expects him to score in double digits every game. He’s the meal ticket. To the big time. To the pros and the multi-million peso contracts. The endorsements that will set them up for life. Or so the father believes.

So you’ll have to forgive Franco when sometimes, he drifts out of the offense and goes for the stats. That pisses off his coach who has no idea of what is going on. However, Franco is a starter on his squad so he’s given just a little bit of leeway. Scorers gotta score, the coach reasons.

Franco? He thinks that basketball used to be fun. It was except now he feels like it is a curse. It’s fun when he’s hitting double digits. It isn’t fun when his guns go dry or he’s in foul trouble. Worse is when he’s benched because there is nothing he can do about his situation. So when he sits for longer than usual he mentally checks out. Sometimes, it messes him up and he gets mad at a teammate who came out of nowhere to become a star. It isn’t that Franco is jealous. His life depends on it.

Or else, he’s going to get tenderized by the father like beef steak. The bruises. You know Suzanne Vega’s song “Luka?” Yeah, he walked into the door again he tells teammates. Just don’t ask why it happens often enough.

One thing you should know is the father… and it's shocking… he’s a pastor. Just don’t ask why.

How about Mark (not his real name too). He’s on television doing analysis. He’s as smart as they come. He works as an assistant coach to a basketball team. Everyone thinks he’s brilliant. His players? They think he is full of crap. He operates using smoke and mirrors. 

During games where his team is playing he yells, shouts, insults his charges like they aren’t people at all. Let’s be clear, it isn’t the angry words, it’s that every sentence is started and punctuated with an expletive and an insult to the boy’s intelligence. For some, the anger is fine although not every player looks at it that way. Words can hurt but what hurts more are when they get slugged. Mark doesn’t slug them. It’s the other assistant coach whose mouth is just as foul if not more. But Mark knows what’s going on and he does nothing. 

After one time, a loss, the team lined up as if they were headed for the confessional box. One by one, they took their penance — the traditional scolding and a punch to the gut so they’ll not commit the same mistake. That is until the next. Some of the players have since transferred to other schools. The parents? They don’t want to say anything because they are afraid of the coaches.

Alex (yes not his real name) was looking forward to playing for this team from the U-belt. Many of the players who went to this school and have since gone on to the pros are his idols. Except when you say “U-belt” it means something entirely different as he was lashed by a coach using his belt with its brass buckle. It left a huge mark on his back one time that Alex tried to conceal it from his parents. However, his parents saw it one time. Now they are filing a lawsuit not only against the coach but the school. 

A parent asks, “What is going on today? What is this win at all costs mentality? Because some players keep quiet, it’s like they accept this as real life and an everyday occurrence. We are teaching our children the wrong values and it becomes a vicious cycle. And this is supposed to be a child’s game.” 

Apparently, it’s not. It’s a livelihood. A meal ticket. Or even the means to a championship.