Just barely warming his leather swivel seat at the government sports agency, chairman Noli Eala suddenly found himself booted out of office as if typhoon Yolanda yanked him out with her catastrophic fury.
Appointed last August by then Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez to the helm of the Philippine Sports Commission, Eala was replaced – in a jiffy – by Dickie Bachmann who was reportedly in the United States at the time.
Bachmann is not a lesser human being. The 6’6” former cager played for La Salle and Alaska in the PBA and subsequently rose to become a sports executive after retiring from the pro ranks.
If I correctly recall, Dickie heads one of the National Sports Associations (is it Squash?).
Bachmann is the son of one of my favorite national players Kurt Bachmann who made the hook shot his signature shot (like Kareem Abdul Jabbar) during his active days at the MICAA wearing the Ysmael Steel jersey.
Said to be a victim of “collateral damage” after Rodriguez had a falling out with PBBM, I feel sorry for Eala who thus failed to prove his executive acumen inasmuch as he had a vision for a progressive grassroots program for Pinoy athletes.
Eala once served as PBA Commissioner and later on as executive director of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP).
“I serve at the pleasure of the President,” Eala humbly said as he accepted his fate.
We cannot prejudge what the new chairman will and can do as the position of head honcho of the government funding agency and policymaker for amateur sports requires more than just the alacrity to serve.
Being able to understand and grasp the nuances and idiosyncrasies that have been bewitching and besieging Philippine sports is a quality that the PSC top hombre needs to possess.
At this time, the PSC still has two more commissioners to be named to complete its five-man board and to ensure that relevant matters are addressed promptly.
For one thing, Bachmann will be confronted by voluminous protocols affecting the country’s participation in the SEA Games to be held in Cambodia next summer.
He will need a lot of help from his board to lighten the load as preparation for the biennial regional tournament
needs more than just money, men and materials.
If he is able to secure the harmonious cooperation of the NSAs (which I believe he can with aplomb) and establish a faithful accord with the leadership of the Philippine Olympic Committee, then all will be well.
For decades, the enmity between the PSC and the POC has created a chasm that proved rather regressive as far as the development of potential Olympic and world championship medalists are concerned.
Today, that chasm seems gone and the paths of unity have been constructively cemented as Hidilyn Diaz, Caloy Yulo, and a host of other Pinoy athletes have achieved feats that we once only dreamed of.
The gold medals in the Olympics and world championships are no longer elusive.
Again, we can only wish chairman Dickie Bachmann success.
He has big shoes to fill. (Email feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!
