IF IT’S true, then it’s a double-fault. No need for a replay to review it.
I refer to a social media post of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), saying it gave Alex Eala P4.5 million in support of the 15-year-old’s appearance in the just-ended French Open.
Turns out it’s untrue. The post has since been deleted after it was labeled “unintended misinformation.”
Was the post PSC’s way of trying to take some credit for Eala’s spectacular semifinal run in Paris, catapulting her now to No. 2 in the world?
The post was doing well, oozing with praise, until it mentioned PSC’s claim of financial support for Eala. This was debunked by Alex’s mother, Rizza Maniego Eala.
There was a verbal promise of it but in an Inquirer editorial, it quoted Rizza as saying in her reply-post, “we were given the runaround” after submitting documents “two inches thick” while trying to collect.
The editorial said the PSC had apologized to the Ealas, quoting the agency as saying, “... while there was an approved resolution to this effect, it was later clarified that this is still being processed, awaiting required documents.”
I know some guys running the PSC, among them PBA legend Ramon Fernandez, veteran journalist Charles Maxey and chairman Butch Ramirez. They are upright. Respected. Unsullied character.
I do not know PSC executive director Guillermo Iroy, who, the Inquirer editorial said, promised to facilitate the immediate release of Alex’s cash assistance.
But Alex’s father, Michael, refused it. He said: “They can give that financial assistance to other athletes who badly need it. We’ve come this far without them anyway.”
Alex has been getting support from family, relatives and corporate backers since becoming a scholar at the Rafael Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Spain.
Turning pro soon, Alex’s talent might yet carry her to heights that would easily translate into oodles of cash and make her a millionaire in no time. As I keep saying, tennis is a big-money sport like golf, basketball and, yes, boxing.
Whoever authored that PSC post did a disservice to Philippine sports.
Any word from my buddies Ramon, Charles or Butch?