LOS ANGELES — Let’s try and call this petty quiz, Learning from Mistakes. OK, between Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista and the San Miguel-RP national basketball team, whose defeat proved more devastating to the Filipino sports lover?
Boom Boom’s disgusting fall, right in the first round, should be it, this being more recent than the disgraceful exit of our national basketball squad from the Olympic qualifier in Japan.
But then, without meaning to be unkind to the young boxer, Philippine boxing evidently did not suffer a jolt with Boom Boom’s fall in the Boxing World Cup in Sacramento, where he accounted for RP’s only loss against the Mexico team.
There continues to be a hot demand for RP fighters, mainly in the United States.
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In short, there’s no urgent need to learn from Boom Boom’s misadventure.
Celebrated as he had been hailed before Aug. 11, it became clear Boom Boom, unlike Manny Pacquiao, was not representative of RP boxing. Truth is Bautista could readily undergo repairs, although it would be terribly foolish to rush him up again.
The comeback trail for Boom Boom should be carefully charted — properly and professionally handled.
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You see, it’s actually RP basketball that honestly needs an overhaul, a long-overdue makeover.
Unfortunately, there’s no honest effort to sincerely evaluate what went wrong and why RP flunked the Olympic exam.
Listen, please. After the cancellation of Bert Batawang’s world title bid, this reporter momentarily moved out of the Wild Card area in Hollywood, which he used to traverse on foot from his brother’s place around Melrose here, and strayed off to nearby Eagle Rock.
The idea was to scour for tips, tiny sporting gems, which could hopefully help solve the myriad problems hobbling RP basketball.
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Call it a lucky break or whatever, but there on Saturday morning, at the Jack ‘n the Box at Eagle Rock, was the father of one of the RP team’s top scorers.
The breakfast talk, naturally, centered on the failed RP team, and his son’s stint under coach Chot Reyes.
Do remember that Coach Chot, ever the wordy gentleman, did not waste time and apologized for the debacle. But that won’t help, snorted the frustrated father.
“How come?”
“He did own up to his mistakes, but he should go a step further.”
“How?”
“He should be ordered to make a clean breast of what went wrong, so future teams won’t be committing the same glaring mistakes he did.”
“But won’t that be shameful, coming out in the open to tell how he bungled the job?”
“Well, he need not do it in public, he could make a written deposition, detail what he sincerely feels should be avoided by the next national squad.”
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Agreed. We will forward the suggestion to basketball godfathers, led by Manny V. Pangilinan, back home and let’s see how they would pick it from there.
Given the break, we asked the frustrated father to detail at least two faults committed by Reyes.
“You know, my son managed to score big in some games, but only after he feigned tiredness and pain whenever they would be made to run in the morning before evening games.”
What do you mean?
“Well, he could preserve his strength and save his overworked legs by avoiding the unnecessary strain in the morning.”
You mean the players were foolishly wasted?
“Evidently.”
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Another fault singled out was the forced fielding of Danny Seigle in the opening match against Iran, despite the fact that Seigle had not worked out with the team due to a lengthy injury.
The designated scorer flopped, thereby spoiling an otherwise fine team chemistry, and RP lost.
Seigle was not fielded against China, and RP won.
But then, he was again sent in the second half against Jordan, when he proved a liability, and RP predictably squandered its initial lead before finally failing to move onto the next round.
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Should Reyes also be accused of having played favorites?
“Not necessarily, but it was clear he opted to rely on technicalities, rather than lean on tested strong game essentials.”
But you think Reyes would be honest enough to make the sacrifice of detailing his mistakes?
“Well, that would be a test of his manhood. It could also confirm his dedication to the cause of Philippine basketball.”
For flag and country.
“Well, if not, he should do it for San Miguel and Mr. Pangilinan, and hopefully for the boys out there looking forward to dream renaissance in RP basketball here.”
That’s it, learning from mistakes.
Meanwhile, our father of the hour swore Reyes should have no problem telling all because “he’s a terrific talker,” in the first place.
