BORGIE HERMIDA : THE FORMER SAN BEDA STAR AND CURRENT NLEX ROAD WARRIORS CAPTAIN

I just conducted an interview with Borgie Hermida of NLEX Road Warriors. After having to postpone the interview several times, I finally got to talk with the former San Beda star and current team captain of NLEX.

Despite the several championships and individual awards that Borgie has won as a player, he very much remains grounded. Despite his numerous fans, he remains rather shy. As team captain of NLEX, he is willing to let his teammates shine. I am rather surprised that he is quite self-effacing despite the popularity that he enjoys.

I am truly hoping that Borgie makes a successful comeback in the PBA soon. He truly is a good example to the fans on and off the court.

Read Borgie's interview in today's issue of Bandera.

PCKF HEAD COACH LEN ESCOLLANTE UMATRAS SA EMAIL INTERVIEW

Katatanggap ko lang ng text mula kay Coach Len Escollante. Ayon sa text, hindi niya masasagot ang mga pinadala kong mga katanungan hinggil sa gulo sa pagitan ng PCKF at Philippine national dragon boat team. Pinagsabihan daw siya ng kanyang command na huwag magbigay ng pahayag sa media.

Nagtataka lamang ako na bigla ang pag atras niya para sa isang email interview. Siya itong sabik na sabik na makaharap ako. At maging ang isang Navy officer ay pumayag na makausap ko siya. Nagsumite ako ng isang letter of intent  sa Public Affairs Office para makakuha ng clearance bago ako magsagawa ng pagtatanong.

Narito ang mga ibinigay kong tanong kay Coach Escollante para sa email interview :

1. Sinasabi ng PCKF na pambabastos ang dahilan ng pagkakatanggal ng buong dragon boat team. Saan, kailan at paano ka binastos ng mga atleta at coaches ng dragon boat team ?

2. Sinasabi naman ng mga atleta at coaches ng dragon boat team, tinanggal sila dahil inungkat nila ang nawawala o bawas nilang allowances at incentives. Totoo ba ito ?

3. Bakit ikaw o ang PCKF ang kumukuha ng mga allowances ng mga atleta at coaches ng dragon boat team ? Bakit kailangang dumaan sa kamay ninyo ang perang nakalaan sa mga atleta at coaches ng team ?

4. Handa ka bang ipakita ang liquidation ng lahat ng biyahe ninyo at ng dragon boat team sa publiko ?

5. Paano na-liquidate ang hiningi ng PCKF na Php376,766.00 "to cover for airfare deficit" gayung inamin mismo ng PCKF na wala itong inabono sa pamasahe sa World Championship sa Italy ayon sa Board Resolution no. 234(B)-2013 ?

6. Totoo ba na nasuspindi ka na ng PSC nuong 2007 dahil sa unliquidated funds at reklamo ng mga canoe-kayak athletes ?

7. Sinasabi ng dragon boat team na bumili kayo ni Jonne Go sa Italy ng sampung Prada at Louis Vuitton bags. Totoo ba ito ?

8. Totoo ba na hindi nakuha ng PCKF ang libreng hotel accommodations sa isang 5-star hotel dahil nagdesisyon itong wag dalhin ang pangalan ng bansa sa DBS Marina Regatta sa Singapore ? At napilitang ipasa ng PCKF ang gastos sa PSC sa hotel accommodations sa isang dormiitory-type inn na nagkakahalaga ng Php148,200.00 ?

9. Nagsagawa na ba ang PCKF ng try-outs para makabuo ng bagong dragon boat team ?

10. Balak ni Sen. Pia Cayetano na "zero budget" ang PSC sa 2014 dahil sa gulo sa pagitan ng PCKF at dragon boat team. Ano ang masasabi mo tungkol dito ?

11. Paano sa tingin mo maaayos ang gusot sa pagitan ng PCKF at Philippine Dragon Boat Team ?

Sayang at mananatiling walang kasagutan ang aking mga tanong dahil pinili ni Coach Len na manahimik sa gitna ng gulo.

EXCLUSIVE : PCKF HEAD COACH LEN ESCOLLANTE TO BREAK SILENCE

Controversial PCKF head coach Len Escollante agreed to an email interview. This will be the first time that she will answer questions regarding the raging controversy between PCKF and the terminated Philippine national dragon boat team. Needless to say, the questions that I sent her are most crucial and direct to the point.

I plan to post Coach Len's interview together with the interview of the team. That way, it is up to the readers to decide who is telling the truth. The readers can form their own conclusions as they read the two sides of the story.

Will Coach Len answer the questions I ask her ? Will she provide documents to prove her statements ? I certainly expect nothing less.

PSC BOARD RESOLUTIONS : THE SMOKING GUN ?

Below are the three PSC board resolutions that involve the releases of funds to the Philippine Canoe-Kayak Federation for the World Championship that was held in Milan, Italy.

RESOLUTION NO. 439(C)-2012

RESOLUTION NO. 545-2012

RESOLUTION NO. 234(B)-2013.

Please see PSC board resolutions.

In my previous posts, I examined the items listed in Resolution 439(C)-2012. Now, I will just focus on the expenditure on airfare.

According to Resolution 439(C)-2012, the total airfare for the 26 athletes, coaches and officials of PCKF costs Php1,358,370.00. PSC approved the total amount because , I assume, it checked the actual cost of the 26 tickets through Cathay Pacific.

But Resolution 545-2012 comes as a big surprise as PSC releases an additional amount of Php376,766.00 for the airfare of the 26-man delegation. The resolution comes merely three days before the team competes in Milan. The release of an additional amount of Php376,766.00 for airfare only goes to show that PSC does not have an idea of just how much the delegation needs to spend for airfare. Worse, PSC did not bother to check the true airfare cost with Cathay Pacific and just approved the said amount without question and released to PCKF the amount it requested for. Resolution 545-2012 clearly states that the additional funds is to be strictly used for airfare.

Resolution 234(B)-2013 poses a bigger problem for PSC and PCKF. In its listing, Resolution 234(B)-2013 clearly states that the originally approved budget for airfare of Php1,358,370.00 is the actual expense paid by PCKF. Meaning, the actual cost for airfare for the entire delegation is truly pegged at Php1,358,370.00. So why did PCKF ask for an additional amount of Php376,766.00 as Resolution 545-2012 indicates ? And why didn't PCKF return the additonal amount that it requested and received if it did not shoulder an additional amount  for airfare ?

And now for the biggest question of all. How did PCKF liquidate the additional airfare if the actual airfare cost remained the same ? How did PCKF manage to liquidate the additional amount in front of PSC if the additional amount is bogus ?

REINSTATE THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL DRAGONBOAT TEAM

POC ARBITRATION COMMITTEE MUDDLES THE ISSUE INVOLVING THE DRAGON BOAT TEAM

In a previous post, I mentioned the recommendations of the POC Arbitration Committee regarding the Philippine dragon boat team's sudden removal from the pool of national athletes. I wrote that the recommendations include an election for a new set of PCKF officers. I also mentioned that the recommendations must first be approved by POC before being implemented.

As it turns out, the true recommendation of the arbitration committee is that the national dragon boat team must be dissolved. "NSA had the right to discipline and dissolve their national team in the interest of change and development".

Several questions therefore arise because of this recommendation.

1. Whatever happened to the allegations about unliquidated funds, physical and verbal abuse and harassment attributed to Jonne Go and Len Escollante. Are these allegations true or not ?

2. While it is true that an NSA has every right to determine its national athletes and coaches, due process must be observed in removing the active national team members. Were the complaints properly investigated at all ? Were the athletes and coaches disrespectful to Jonne Go and Len Escollante as alleged by the two PCKF officials ? How did the team disrespect the two PCKF officials ? Did Go and Escollante cite specific incidents that show gross disrespect ?

3. Why did my source say something totally different from the actual recommendation ? My source happens to be a top sports official. Hence, I will assume that what he says is true and accurate. Why the need to lie and obvious attempt to deceive people ?

4. Why is the hard copy of the recommendations of the arbitration committee not available to the public ?

Instead of clearing up the whole situation, the arbitration committee only introduces more questions. Questions that must be answered squarely and not merely swept under the rug.

POC ARBITRATION COMMITTEE AND ITS IRRELEVANT RECOMMENDATIONS

Reliable sources reveal that the POC Arbitration Committee, tasked to settle the conflict between PCKF President Jonne Go, canoe-kayak head coach Len Escollante and 30 disgruntled dragon boat paddlers and coaches, has come out with its recommendations last November 6, 2013. The committee, according to sources, recommends that elections must be held for a new set of PCKF officers. The arbitration committee, likewise, recommends that only club or team members can run for elected PCKF positions. The recommendations must first be approved by the POC board before any of them can be implemented. Interestingly, Jonne Go is a board member of POC.

After four months of dilly-dallying, the arbitration committee can only come up with recommendations that are best described as irrelevant and weak. PCKF, even without the recommendation, must hold an election to find a new president following the death of former president Dr. Sim. Jonne Go, as things stand, is merely an acting president. The recommendation that only club or team members can run for an elected PCKF position is a given for all legitimate national sports associations. Hence, the irrelevance and pointlessness of these recommendations.

What I find totally unacceptable and deceitful is the arbitration committee's failure to address the issues of unliquidated funds, physical and verbal abuse and the drinking sessions of Jonne Go and Len Escollante. The paddlers and coaches of the national dragon boat team have hurled serious allegations against the two PCKF officials. Yet, the arbitration committee conveniently refuses to answer whether these allegations are true or not. Consequently, punishments for the guilty are not included in the recommendations.

Thus, justice remains elusive for all the parties concerned because the arbitration committee has chosen to be silent on the core issues. Perhaps, it is time for the paddlers and coaches to take their cause to the Asian and world federations. It is time to put these sports officials in their proper places.

SAN BEDA SHOWS CHAMPIONSHIP POISE

San Beda stamped its championship quality with a classy 60-48 win against arch-rival Letran to draw first blood in the 2013 NCAA championship series.

San Beda stars Baser Amer and Ola Adeogun struggled during the first three quarters. But the Semerad twins came off the bench to provide the points for the struggling San Beda team. The twins were a picture of hustle as they sustained the team pretty much during the first three quarters. Ludovice likewise provided timely hits to keep San Beda close.

But the stars of San Beda suddenly got their bearings in the fourth quarter and carried much of  the fight for the Red Lions. All told, Adeogun finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds to outplay Almazan where it mattered most. Baser Amer hit a couple of three point shots to finish with 11 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists.

While San Beda has its determined players to thank for the win, I must take my hats off to Coach Boyet for coming up with a winning formula. Coach Boyet came up with a game plan that effectively rendered Alamazan useless in the crucial part of the game. And Coach Boyet was able to draw out the best from his players in the fourth despite their struggles in the first three quarters.

Well done indeed, San Beda !

DENNIS CAGARA AND STEPHAN SCHROCK : TRULY FILIPINO

Two Fil-foreign Azkals players have indicated their desire to play in a benefit game for the victims of super typhoon Yolanda. Plans are underway for the game to be held in Germany.

I have always been critical of Fil-foreigners playing for the national team. I have always believed that all of the Fil-foreigners playing in the national football team are merely after the money and popularity. But I am happy to be proven wrong by Cagara and Schrock.

The desire of Cagara and Schrock to help the victims of Yolanda is a clear indication that they do have the heart for their fellow Filipinos. Playing for a benefit game is a mark of a truly Filipino heart.

Kudos to Dennis Cagara and Stephan Schrock. Thank you for being true Filipinos.

MISS UNIVERSE PHILIPPINES 2013 AND THE PHILIPPINE AZKALS : A SIMILAR PATH

courtesy of au.ibtimes

In a few hours, the new Miss Universe will be crowned in Russia.

While I sincerely hope that Miss Philippines will do well in the pageant, I can't help but compare her to the Philippine Azkals. Like the Azkals, Miss Philippines is more of media hype and fanaticism than substance. Like the Azkals too, Miss Philippines looks good but does not seem to stand for anything at all.

Considering that she is a top graduate of the best university in the country, it is rather strange that Miss Philippines does not seem to have the mean determination to win. She does not seem to be in the pageant to win it. She does not clearly define her character with a certain cause or belief. And her communication skills are not much to crow about.

Like the Azkals, Miss Philippines is a much sought-after commercial model. Reports have it that she was tapped to appear in numerous commercials and a music video in Russia. While these are good indications that she is well-noticed in the pageant, commercials do not mean the crown.

Unless she really puts on a good showing during the finals, Miss Philippines might just end up clapping for Miss Great Britain or Miss USA in the background. Like the Azkals, Miss Philippines might just go home empty-handed despite all the media hype and fantards.

TO THE POC AND PSC : WHO IS JONNE GO ?

Jonne Go is the current president of Philippine Canoe Kayak Federation. She became president of PCKF after the former president died.

Ms. Go is now in the news because she terminated 25 players and coaches of the Philippine dragon boat team that won 6 gold medals in the recent World Championship. She cited gross disrespect to her presidency as the main reason why she got rid of the winning team. Without citing specific incidents to show the athletes' and coaches' disrespect to her, she also put a stop to the monthly allowance of the athletes and coaches. All these she did without any decision coming from an arbitration committee.

What I find astonishing is the apparent lack of sports background of Jonne Go. I have been wanting to ask her if she was ever an athlete or an officer of a sports club or sports association before joining PCKF. But she refuses to answer my calls, texts or email. Hence, I am at a loss over her sports expertise and experience, if any.

But what is really surprising is that Jonne Go is also a board member of Philippine Olympic Committee. So, aside from being the president of a national sports association, she is also a board member of the highest sports body in the land. With nary a trace of sports background, it is truly amazing.

With her order to terminate the entire dragon boat team, Jonne Go effectively denies the country of 17 medals in the Southeast Asian Games. The country will not be fielding in a team for dragon boat events in the coming SEA Games this December all because of Jonne Go.

This leads me to my ultimate question. What is it with Jonne Go that she seems to get whatever she wants with POC and PSC ?