Various government agencies must “formulate and implement systematic solutions” to address the “culture of violence” now prevalent on Philippine basketball, a lawmaker said on Sunday, Nov. 13.
“Ako Bicol also takes this opportunity to address the culture of violence prevalent in Philippine basketball with strong emphasis on sportsmanship, not merely in oaths and handshakes, but recruitment screening and through training sessions on anger management, conflict resolution, and de-escalation intervention for players, coaches, and game organizers,” Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co said in a statement.
He suggested that the country comes up with “systems solutions” and called on the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), the basketball league associations, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Education (DepEd), and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to start systematic solutions that could be implemented beginning January 2023.
The call came in the aftermath of the brawl between players of the College of St. Benilde Blazers and Jose Rizal University’s John Amores during last week’s NCAA Season 98 game.
Taine Davis and Jimboy Pasturan, accompanied by Blazers head coach Charles Tiu who served as a witness, already filed serious physical injury complaints against Amores for being at the receiving end of his punches.
READ: Blazers players file charges vs JRU’s John Amores for physical injury
As the organizer of the Ako Bicol Cup, Co said they gave “clear instructions” to emphasize “sportsmanship and non-violence” in their games.
The lawmaker explained that such solutions should be implemented at the barangay level and in all schools across the country.
It is not right that family members of basketball players worry about their loved ones because of the violence that seemed to be the sport’s reputation now, Co added.
“Away at basag-ulo ang madalas na imahen ng basketball lalo na sa mga barangay. Panahon na para tukuyin ng mga mayor at mga school superintendents ang problemang panlipunan na ito (Fights and brawls are the usual images of basketball, especially in the barangays. It is time that mayors and school superintendents identify this societal problem),” the lawmaker stressed.
Meanwhile, Co also congratulated Bince Rafael Operiano for being named champion of the 6th Eastern Asia Youth Chess Championship held in Bangkok, Thailand from Nov. 4 to 12.
“Ako Bicol Party-list and I congratulate Bince Rafael Operiano of Oas, Albay on his championship gold at the 6th Eastern Asia Youth Chess Championship in Bangkok, Thailand,” Co said.
“Our congratulations also to his parents, family, neighbors, and friends because all of them certainly had inputs to his sports development,” he added.
The lawmaker promised to continue his organization’s “grassroots sports program to search for more Filipino youth like Bince all over the Bicol Region.”
Operiano’s skills were discovered when he was just 6 years old after he won the National Age Chess Group Kiddie category shortly before the Covid-19 pandemic.
His family sought for sponsorship to send him to Thailand after he qualified.