Sports bits

SEAG trip lacks fund

The Philippine Sports Commission has admitted that it still has to come up with the money to be used for the country’s participation in the December Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam.

PSC chair Eric Buhain, who said that some P40 milllion has been designated for the SEAG delegates, has planned to ask the President to add to the funds allotted for the delegation. Buhain had earlier batted for a lean and mean contingent to Vietnam since it is the PSC which will shoulder the blame if the team ends up collecting a paltry tally.

But the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) which has the authority to assemble the delegation got the backing of President Arroyo to deploy a huge number of athletes as part of the country’s build-up for the 2005 SEAG in Manila.

The POC estimates that P70,000 will be enough to send one athlete to Vietnam, inclusive of roundtrip fare, board and lodging, allowances, uniforms and equipment. Meanwhile, the PSC has announced that it has decided to temporarily put on hold the staging of the Luzon and Visayas Games and the Philippine National Championships due to lack of funds.
The PSC, however, announced that the Mindanao Games and the Palarong Pambansa will push through although there are no specifics yet on the date and venue of the Palaro while the Mindanao Games will carry forward as planned in October since the money will come from the President's athletic fund.

Limpot and company seek GAB’s help

Games and Amusement Board chief Eduardo Villanueva presided over a hearing on July 3 and 4 to hear the testimony of players and team personnel who had tested positive in random tests conducted by the league in May.

Those who attended the the GAB hearings at the agency’s Makati office were Ginebra’s Jun Limpot, Talk ‘N’ Text’s Noli Locsin, Long David and Ryan Bernardo, FedEx’s Norman Gonzales, Red Bull’s Davonn Harp and Jimwell Torion.  PBA technical chief Perry Martinez represented Commisioner Noli Eala. GAB board member Nonong Palabrica said the hearings were conducted in accordance with a GAB resolution calling for an automatic review of PBA policies and decisions.

During the hearing, Limpot maintained his innocence.  His lawyer, Robert Diokno Jr., said the PBA has yet to act on Limpot's motion for reconsideration.

Villanueva clarified the hearings were not meant to interfere with the internal affairs of the pro league.  He explained that as the government agency mandated to regulate professional sports, the GAB was just exerting efforts to correct deficiencies as well as to protect public interest.

Cleveland signs Lebron James

Eighteen-year-old sensation LeBron James, who was chosen as the top pick of the 2003 NBA Draft, signed a three-year, $12.96 million contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The high school phenomenon from Akron, Ohio already has endorsement deals worth more than $100 million and will soon add more to his bulging business portfolio and will be paid $4.02 million by the Cavaliers.

James’ contract represents a 20 percent increase on the deal the Houston rockets gave Chinese center Yao Ming, last year’s top pick.

One of the few obstacles the Cavaliers had to overcome during their contract talks was James’ participation in the summer leagues.  The Cavaliers will play in the league through July 12, and then head to Boston for the July 14-20 games.

UAAP unveils season 66

 
When the University Athletic Association of the Philippines opens shop July 12 it will focus on the loftiest of objectives in all sports—the Spirit of Olympism.With the theme, “Olympism: Blending Sports with Culture and Education,” season 66 host Ateneo, according to UAAP President Jose Capistrano, Jr., wants to create more awareness and impact of next year’s 2004 Olympic games which will be held in the Games’ birthplace in Athens, Greece.

The UAAP president emphasized the league has focused on promoting a goal of “all sports” all these years and aims to help promote the spirit of Olympism right where the future of Philippine sports are to be rooted.

Capistrano said that for the first time in league history, all 14 sports in the UAAP would grab the spotlight during the July 12 noon opening ceremonies at the Araneta Coliseum. *

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