GUSTUHIN man ng Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) na payagan nang magbalik ang sports sa bansa ay nananatiling tali ang mga kamay nito sa mga nais nitong gawin.
“We are really dependent on the protocols of the IATF and the DOH. Kailangan sumunod tayo doon,” sabi ni commissioner Ramon Fernandez na siya ngayong tumatayong officer-in-charge ng PSC.
“Hopefully when the quarantine protocols are eased up, we can resume the training, at least. Honestly, wala kaming magawang plano lalo na with regards to contact sports.”
Gayunman, sinabi ni Fernandez sa virtual Usapang Sports forum ng Tabloids Organization in Philippine Sports (TOPS) Huwebes ng umaga na ilan sa mga pambansang atleta ay patuloy na nag-eensayo sa ligtas na training facility tulad ni skateboarding champion Margielyn Didal.
“Si Margielyn Didal, I’d like to report from Cebu, aside from selling online eggs and shrimps and what have you, she’s also training in Cebu. Mayroon tayong kaibigan doon na may sports facility, maski na ECQ ay very safe naman at malaki ‘yung lugar niya so nakakapag-training siya doon,” sabi ni Fernandez na dumating sa Maynila mula Cebu Lunes ng gabi para magsilbi bilang OIC ng PSC habang nakabakasyon si PSC chairman William “Butch” Ramirez.
“In fact last month, late June, she won a virtual championship, the 2020 Asian Skateboarding Championship Lockdown 5 online competition. She’s in top shape.”
Nakatakda ring kausapin ni Fernandez si Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino para pag-usapan kung paano pa nila matutulungan ang mga atletang may tsansang mag-qualify sa 2020 Tokyo Olympics na nakatakdang gawin sa susunod na taon.
“Sana ma-identify talaga nila kung sino ‘yung, at least, merong man lang 75 percent chance mag-qualify sa Olympics,” ani Fernandez, na miyembro ng pambansang koponan na nanalo ng ginto sa 1972 FIBA Asia Under-18 Championship at 1973 FIBA Asia Championship.
Bilang OIC ng PSC, nais ni Fernandez na ipagpatuloy ang mga programa ng ahensiya nitong mga nakalipas na buwan.
“Basically we will just have to continue with the programs and maybe may konting tweak doon sa mga gagawin namin. Hopefully before the week is over, we will be able to meet again as a board to review our priorities on what we have to do. Wala naman masyadong marami kasing gagawin right now except to review our policy,” aniya.
Dagdag pa ni Fernandez, na 19 beses na nagkampeon at apat na beses na nahirang na Most Valuable Player (MVP) ng Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), isasagawa sa Hulyo 27-31 ang online coaching certifications program sa Visayas kung saan 100 coaches mula sa iba’t-ibang local government units ang makikinabang sa unang batch.
“The second batch will be in August,” sabi ni Fernandez. “There will be eight batches after November. We hope to do that in Mindanao and Luzon also.”
Umapela rin si Fernandez sa mga coaches at atleta na naapektuhan ng pandemya na kung saan natapyasan ng kalahati ang kanilang natatanggap na allowance mula sa PSC.
“Tiis-tiis lang muna tayo dahil lahat tayo sa buong mundo ay naapektuhan ng pandemic. But rest assured, as what President Duterte instructed to us, aalagaan namin ang mga atleta,” sambit ni Fernandez. “Pag wala pang bakuna, talagang hindi pa tayo makabalik sa normal.”
Sumailalim naman si Fernandez ng swab test at 14-day self quarantine bilang pagtugon sa health protocols ng gobyerno.
“We will comply with the standard procedures to ensure that we are helping in curbing the spread of the virus,” ani Fernandez.
Ang TOPS Usapang Sports, na mapapanood ng live sa Sports On Air Facebook page tuwing Huwebes ganap na alas-10 ng umaga, ay suportado ng PSC at PAGCOR.
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