Vic guv: No legislating rules on local basketball tourneys

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Vice Governor Joseller Guiao on Tuesday clarified that legislating rules for local basketball tournaments may prove to be futile as it may affect functions of other bodies overseeing the tournaments.

Guiao's reactions came after the issue was raised by respected Sun.Star Pampanga opinion writer Noel Tulabut, who noted of "sloppy officiating" on a league in Mabalacat town, prompting him to elevate the call to the Provincial Board presided by the vice governor.

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In part, Tulabut's appeal was:

"Through this summer, basketball leagues are being held everywhere. I have seen the conduct of some. And I have seen the sorry state of them.

In Mabalacat, for example, a controversy has ensued following a GRAVE mistake that was admitted by the members of the technical committee themselves.

Has it been rectified? No, not at all as they wrongly cited a provision in the by-laws, which was not only full of technical loopholes but was also lacking in important provisions.

Should this sorry state continue? Should erring referees and committee members remain unsanctioned? I don't think so especially when their decisions gravely affect the outcome of the league.

This is a call for basketball luminaries - the professionals and the self-proclaimed ones - to do something. Attention is specifically called on Sangguniang Panlalawigan presiding officer Vice Gov. Yeng Guaio - who himself is a professional basketball coach. We look up to him and we also hope for his action. Same is hoped on Board Member Cris Garbo who is also from Mabalacat town.

It is time that you enact some laws that would best govern grassroots basketball. I am pretty sure that mistakes in handling basketball leagues do not only happen in Mabalacat but also elsewhere. The recent brouhaha of Mabalacat players appearing in an inter-town league without shoes is also a direct mockery of the sport and the inter-town league."

But Guiao, a renowned international hoopster and coach, said: "Number one, there might be some technicalities since why should we only legislate for basketball? It might as well be for all sport forms. In such an issue, it will be difficult to just pinpoint basketball for legislation. Number two, as I see it, it is just a matter that is solvable and could be taken care of by organizers or a committee created for that purpose. If you create legislation for that, it might lead to a creation of a structure which is not really necessary."

The famed coach added: "There are SKs [Sangguniang Kabataan] in charge of sports. They can discuss that internally among themselves. There are sports committees and consultants on sports and recreation. On that level, doon muna sila dapat ma-take up before they are elevated to legislation. We might be taking away the initiatives, let's say from the SK or LGU which the law dictates they are the ones in charge. And also, if you legislate laws like that, it will require funding which might take away resources from the SKs for their programs so there will be conflict as to allocation of resources."

Guiao opined that the issue, particularly in Mabalacat, could best be resolved among themselves.