MARY Joy Tabal, the petite sprinter turned marathoner won the women’s crown of the Milo marathon for the fourth straight year, and with her victory, her curious status was again highlighted: The country’s best women’s marathoner is not part of the national team.
There’s a long story behind this curious fact but it basically boils down to one thing. Patafa, which like all other national sports associations is based in Manila, wants Tabal to uproot herself and transfer to the nation’s capital. Joy, who rose to the ranks and became the country’s best because of her training in Cebu with her Cebuano coach Philip Duenas, doesn’t want to leave her comfort zone.
Can the two parties reach a middle ground? I don’t know. I sure hope so as 2017 is a SEA Games year. I understand Joy’s stance of not wanting to leave her comfort zone. Besides, as it was pointed out before, she established her mark and record while based in Cebu using her coach’s training regimen.
Patafa’s stance, on the other hand, is also understandbale because it has been their practice; to uproot athletes from the provinces and transfer them to Manila. But perhaps, in this case, they can be flexible?
Besides, it’s on record. The last Cebu marathon queen who transferred to Manila lost her advantage. Was it because of the move? The trainers? Or because she left her comfort zone? We don’t know. What we do know is that since Mary Grace delos Santos left Cebu to join the national team, she is no longer the same elite runner as she was when based in Cebu.
Another point makes Patafa’s stand on Joy seem personal and unwarranted. Why is Patafa insisting that Joy leave Cebu for Manila when they don’t do the same to US-based athletes? Why only require such from Joy?
If Patafa does the same to Eric Cray and the Fil-American does transfer to Manila, then Joy has no choice but to do the same. But as long as Patafa uses a double standard and allows Cray to stay in his comfort zone but does not do the same to Joy, then the Cebu-based marathoner can keep offering her middle ground or compromise— train in Cebu and join NT team if there’s a coming event.
It’s as simple as that, right? It is, actually, if you only consider being based in Manila or Cebu as the criteria for Joy’s return. That’s the official reason and that’s what’s being discussed, on paper.
But sadly, Joy’s case is not all about her location, hence the stalemate on her status.
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