Unfair to Franz

GlobalPort has now won two games in a row in the PBA Governors Cup from a 0-4 start and coaching consultant Franz Pumaren deserves credit for the turnaround except somebody else who’s clearly not calling the shots for the Batang Pier is the wrong man who sits on the victory table to meet the media in the press room.

On paper, Johnedel Cardel is GlobalPort’s head coach with Cholo Villanueva the lead assistant. Others in the coaching staff are Eric Gonzales, Oliver Bunyi, Senen Duenas and Erwin Sta. Maria.

But it’s clear when GlobalPort is in a timeout, Pumaren is the man in charge, the de facto head coach. Villanueva is the assistant nearest to Pumaren as his chief second during the huddles.  Cardel is far from the inner circle despite his designation. Pumaren gives the orders, makes the subs and signals for timeouts.

After GlobalPort beat Meralco, 126-123, in double overtime last Aug. 14, Cardel went to the press room to answer questions from media. He was also in the spotlight after the Batang Pier beat San Miguel Beer, 98-92, last Friday. Cardel’s presence could hardly be justified. Reporters find it difficult to fire questions at Cardel because everyone knows he’s the wrong man to ask.

So why the masquerade? Why is Cardel being foisted as head coach when he’s obviously not functioning in that capacity? Who’s fooling whom? It’s an insult to the intelligence of media that this farce persists. Pumaren isn’t the coaching consultant – he’s the head coach so why not make it official? The public doesn’t like to be fooled and this apparent act of deceit isn’t coming down lightly.

GlobalPort PBA governor Erick Arejola explained that even if management wanted to appoint Pumaren as head coach, it isn’t possible. “There’s a rule that doesn’t allow a PBA head coach to coach in any other league,” he said. Before joining GlobalPort, Pumaren was named head coach of Adamson’s senior men’s varsity in the UAAP. Pumaren will make his Adamson debut this season which starts in two weeks. According to Arejola, GlobalPort isn’t able to appoint Pumaren as head coach because he’s currently Adamson head coach in the UAAP.

PBA commissioner Chito Narvasa said the other day he’s not aware of the coaching prohibition. “I understand during the term of (late commissioner) Jun Bernardino, there was a rule of exclusivity, that a PBA head coach couldn’t be a head coach in any other league,” he said. “I remember when I played for Ateneo, our coach Baby Dalupan was also Crispa coach in the PBA. We were then in the NCAA and it was ruled that coach Baby couldn’t coach Ateneo because he was a professional coach. Actually, coach Baby never received a salary from Ateneo as coach because he donated it entirely to the Blue Eagles scholarship fund. At that time, the collegiate league wouldn’t allow a PBA head coach to be a varsity head coach.”

In the UAAP today, a head coach is allowed to coach in any other league, including the PBA. That means as far as the UAAP is concerned, Pumaren could be head coach of both Adamson and GlobalPort.

Narvasa said he’s asked his staff to dig up the memorandum that prohibits a PBA head coach from being head coach in any other league. “If the rule exists, I’ll propose to the PBA Board to scrap it,” he said. “It’s not fair to take away an opportunity for a PBA head coach to increase his income by becoming head coach in another league like the UAAP or NCAA. As far as I’m concerned, if GlobalPort decides to designate Franz as head coach, that’s fine with me. The decision is the team’s, not mine. And if the UAAP and NCAA don’t mind, then let’s stop this farce. If a PBA head coach isn’t able to maintain his focus because he’s also head coach in the UAAP or NCAA, then a decision has to be made to correct the situation. That’s the PBA team’s call.”

It’s unfair to Pumaren to continue this disguise. He’s the key in putting GlobalPort back on the winning track. And he deserves the recognition. Media would like to ask him questions in the post-game conference and he should be available. It’s also unfair to Cardel who’s put on the spot when everyone knows he’s not calling the shots.

The UAAP has no restrictions when it comes to coaches and doesn’t discriminate between a local and a foreigner. Tai Bundit is from Thailand and coaches Ateneo’s senior women’s volleyball team. In men’s basketball, the UAAP also has no restrictions except the Basketball Coaches of the Philippines (BCAP) has. Narvasa was BCAP president before he was named PBA commissioner. San Miguel Corp. sports director Alfrancis Chua is now BCAP president. The BCAP is firm on its stand to disallow foreigners to coach in the UAAP or NCAA.

A year ago, UP asked BCAP if American Joe Ward could be the Fighting Maroons head coach. When BCAP threatened to go to court to stop Ward’s appointment, UP withdrew and named him a consultant instead. It’s the same situation with Ateneo consultant Tab Baldwin. Sandy Arespacochaga is nominally the Blue Eagles head coach but clearly, it’s Baldwin calling the shots. Narvasa said if Baldwin is named head coach, BCAP will file a suit that could lead to deportation.

Narvasa said personally, he has no objections to Pumaren concurrently acting as head coach of GlobalPort and Adamson. Now, it’s up to GlobalPort to stop this charade and call a spade a spade. The fans shouldn’t be fooled. Give credit where it’s due. Pumaren deserves the recognition for GlobalPort’s breakthrough. It’s not right to recognize somebody else for what he’s done.