Year in and year out, Filipino pool players bring home accolades for the country. I think they deserve more attention than they are getting from the media and therefore from the public in general.
Last night, the Philippine Sports Commission held its annual awarding ceremony for the standout athletes and NSAs of the previous year. Dennis Orcollo was awarded athlete of the year honors alongside Boxing Champ Nonito Donaire Jr.
see related Philippine Star article here:
http://www.philstar.com/sportsarticle.aspx?articleid=783714&publicationsubcategoryid=69
Orcollo won the World 8-ball Championship last year. This isn't his first title either, he has a long list of achievements and sat at the top of the world rankings for a long time but no one seemed to notice. It wasn't even just Orcollo who has been winning. Francisco "Django" Bustamante also won the most prestigious title in pool back in 2010, the WPA World 9-ball Championship. Just like Dennis, only a handful of people paid attention to it. It seems like the number of Filipino contestants making it to the top 24 of American Idol gets more attention than our World Champions in pool. I'll be posting more details about other Filipino pool players who won major titles in the past year but for now, I'd like to comment on some of the things that Vice President Binay said during his speech
Apart from Orcollo, double gold medalist Iris Ranola was also given a citation by the PSC last night. For those of you who don't know, both Dennis and Iris almost didn't make it to the SEAG.
*excerpts courtesy of Philippine Star
“Sports is measured by the number of medals won but it is my modest opinion that your daily victories are what matters most.You endured long hours of pain, fatigues and plateau you must rise to do well, all for glory of flag and country. Indeed, you’re the symbols of hope for every Filipino."
This is an understatement. Dennis resigned from the national team in early 2011 because of unreasonable demands for practice time and his dissatisfaction in general of the policies implemented by BSCP President Arturo Ilagan. Luckily, through the help of his management group, Bugsy Promotions and the intervention of BSCP Chairman Aristeo Puyat, his issues were heard and he was reinstated to the national team.
In the case of Ranola, she and the other members of the national team were subjected to over three months of rigorous qualifying games to determine the selection for the two slots of the ladies team to be sent to Jakarta. (Ten round-robin stages per event) After she got second place behind former World 10-ball Champion Rubilen Amit in both the 9-ball and 8-ball categories, she should have been assured the second slot in both events. However, unexpectedly, it was announced by BSCP Sec. Gen. Robert Mananquil by order of Ilagan that she would have to play another round of qualifying events against Mary Ann Basas. Fortunately, through the help of the PSC and the POC, but not without much drama and stress, this was deemed unreasonable due to the fact that the deadline for submitting the line up has passed and the sudden change in the qualifying policy did not make sense at all.
“You are a model for proving everyday that through perseverance, you’ll reap success and achieve your goals,” he said in Filipino.
The gold medals of these athletes as well as the rest of the haul of the billiard team proves the truth in VP Binay's words. The Phil Billiard team won the over-all championship for cue sports in Indonesia. The two athletes who had to fight their way to the SEAG were the ones who came out victorious in the end with three gold medals between them.
"The PSA honored not just the athletes but outstanding National Sports Associations in the Billiards Sports Confederation of the Philippines and Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines. "
After everything that these athletes went through and all the unnecessary issues caused by their own NSA, it makes me wonder if these honors are deserved. I can't speak for the Boxing Association. For all I know they have in fact done a fantastic job. If so, kudos to them. As for the BSCP, it seems like more harm than good was done. Thankfully, BSCP Chairman Aristeo Puyat, VP Mahar Mangahas and Director Efren Reyes with the help of POC Pres. Peping Cojuanco and PSC Chairman Richie Garcia were able to resolve the problems caused by Ilagan.
Vargas shared his plum with all athletes and officials from various sports who with “meager resources go through the daily grind with determination, courage and fortitude.”
He also challenged fellow sports execs to perform like true leaders. “What we do will impact on how our athletes behave. We should be accountable for our deeds and our words. Not only because people are watching but also because it is the right thing to do.”
Sports leaders, Vargas said, should focus on grassroots as they vie for the elusive Olympic gold.
“As sports leaders, we need to present a program that is worthy of support from POC, PSC, and the private sector,” he said.
What he said can't be more spot on. I have never met Mr. Vargas but I'll be sure to buy him a drink when I do. This is a call for action. Let's do something before it's too late. Our athletes excel all over the world. We are respected as the breeding ground for the best pool players in the world. We can't let our crop of players deteriorate. If something can be done, it must be done now. Our champions are not getting any younger. A grassroots program must be established. Let us not allow the Philippines to slip out of the limelight.
The PSC has taken the first step in helping out by giving billiards a priority sport status in their budgeting program. Let's put these resources to good use. Friends in the media, please pay more attention to these athletes who deserve all the attention and promotion that you can give. TO the public, let's take pride in the true gems of our country. Stay tuned and I will keep posting regularly about the various achievements of our pool heroes. Let's all work hand-in-hand to strengthen our hold to the title of the world's pool powerhouse. This is a sure source of Pinoy Pride. Let's not allow it to go to the dogs.
By the way, if anyone I mentioned here gets any ideas, everything I said here is true and you know I can prove it.
In every criminal prosecution for libel, the truth may be given in evidence to the court and if it appears that the matter charged as libelous is true, and, moreover, that it was published with good motives and for justifiable ends, the defendants shall be acquitted.
Chelsea 4: 1 Napoli 
Real Madrid 4:1 CSKA Moskva 
Internazionale 2:1 Marseille 
Bayern 7:0 Basel 
APOEL 1-0 LYON 
Barcelona 7-1 Leverkusen 
Arsenal 3-0 AC Milan 
Benfica 2-0 Zenit St. Petersburg 
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