DISCOVERY PERLAS AND SBP : AN UNNECESSARY MATCH-UP

To this day, Discovery Perlas, the Philippine women's basketball team, does not know whether it can participate in the 2013 SEA Games in Myanmar. Despite a silver medal finish in the last SEA Games, the team's participation to the regional tournament hangs in the air.

What I find deplorable and unacceptable is how Samahang Basketbolista ng Pilipinas makes it impossible for Discovery Perlas to go to Myanmar. First, SBP, since 2008, does not give Discovery Perlas a single centavo to fund its participation in international tournaments. International experience entails a considerable amount of money. Without financial assistance, it is impossible for any team to compete in international tournaments and gain international exposure. For the SEA Games, Discovery Perlas must find sponsors to pay for its airfare, food and hotel accommodations.Sadly, SBP will not help the team find sponsors, much less shoulder the team's expenses. Discovery Perlas must find sponsors on its own.

With no less than MVP as president, I find it rather strange that SBP does not give a single centavo to Discovery Perlas. With a budget of 100M pesos a year for Smart-Gilas, why can't MVP and SBP extend their generosity to Discovery Perlas ? Why can't MVP and SBP give a fraction of what they give to Smart-Gilas to Discovery Perlas ?

Second, SBP refuses to endorse Discovery Perlas to the 2013 SEA Games. In fact, it was the team manager of Discovery Perlas who wrote a letter of appeal for the team's case to be evaluated. PSC chairman Richie Garcia, chef-de-mission Col. Tamayo, Allan of NSA Affairs and Paul of Task Force SEA Games want the team to go to Myanmar. But they simply cannot accommodate the team because it is SBP that must make an appeal and endorsement. Interestingly, all other NSA's wrote letters of appeal in behalf of their athletes and teams. SBP is the only NSA that refuses to write an appeal for one of its teams. But members of the team say that SBP has finally issued the necessary endorsement. The endorsement came four days ago. While this is a welcome development, is it enough to send the team to Myanmar since entries by number and names have deadlines ?

Lastly, a reliable source reveals that an SBP official approached someone to issue a document that will effectively prevent Discovery Perlas from participating in Myanmar. Fortunately, the person refused to do what the SBP official requested. You will think that the SBP official will take his cue from there. But the SBP official proceeded to ask the same person if he knows someone who can and will accommodate his request.

Thus the question remains. Why is SBP doing all these to Discovery Perlas ?