In business parlance, mergers and alliances are the cooperative endeavors sought by smaller firms with giant counterparts to prevent the closure of the former when it is in dire straits.
In short, the productive existence of a crumbling organization is saved because a stable one, acting as big brother, comes in to rescue the former from drowning.
Today, there are attempts by the chair of the Philippine Sports Commission to unite collegiate sports groups into one solid body.
This is a very commendable move and I hope it is not the ningas kugon type.
I must tell you that there were previous moves in the past (I think in the late 70s and early 80s) when some sports leaders thought about merging the NCAA and the UAAP into one.
For a time, the talks started like wildfire simply because the idea at that time looked very attractive aside from the fact that the institutions belonging to both sectors were not as stable and strong as they are today.
If anyone can recall, the NBA did not become the top sports body if the competing American Basketball Association (ABA where the famous DR. J sprung from) did not agree to subsume itself with the NBA.
At the moment, the Philippine sports terrain is dotted with just about any sports acronym one can muster. Actually, this just shows that sports leaders are surfacing from every nook and cranny of the archipelago which spells inspiration and motivation among young, aspiring athletes of the country.
However, I believe that mergers and alliances produce more thematic effect because the union of groups advocating the same sports tenets make them more stable and more competitive.
As a clear example, the US NCAA is the spawning ground and source of fresh talents who move up to the professional ranks – be it in athletics, baseball, football, hockey, swimming, gymnastics, basketball, golf, tennis, etc., etc.
Because the Philippines has been the ‘kulelat’ even just in the least regional competitions like the SEAG, it becomes imperative to unite the various sports bodies in the collegiate levels now.
Foremost, we need to have a year-round sports calendar to ensure aspiring athletes, particularly the grassroots, of a busy sports sked to channel their inexhaustible energies on.
For instance, during the summer months when there is so much sun and rarely rains, outdoor sports should be played by the youths in possibly all parts of the country.
Thus, baseball, softball, athletics, football, cycling et al take center stage.
During the rainy season, indoor sports become the order of the day.
Copying the US NCAA format is not bad. As you might have noted, the Americans are always top contenders in any sports contest they participate in.
For the record, sports excellence has been the trademark of any US athlete and this has been their country’s selling point.
Ergo, I urge the collegiate sports bodies to seriously consider the idea of coming together to the negotiating table and thresh out the whys and the wherefores.
This may require tact and diplomacy on Ramirez’ part because both the NCAA and the UAAP have something to give up and something to gain.
Compromise is not the soul of the matter.
It is about nationalism or love of country.
The first attempt to unite these two did not materialize for reasons of pride, security of tenure, leadership and financing.
We realize how much money the NCAA and UAAP make out of their basketball tournaments. Coliseums are filled up with students from their respective schools and from thousands of alumni and paying basketball fanatics.
They earn millions during the semifinal and final matches.
These issues will be the source of headaches and migraines for Ramirez.
But more than this, he can appeal to the patriotic sense of the management committees of these twin collegiate groups to consider the idea.
It may look tough initially but the task is do-able. (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) Rom.4:7: “Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. GOD BLESS THE PHLIPPINES!
