Muddled 2016 presidential derby

Here’s a random thought about a pressing issue of the times.

The deadline for filing certificates of candidacy for President has long elapsed, yet the voting public, and maybe even Comelec, are still not sure who will be in the final list of candidates. Many are of the view there will only be one entity to finally tell us who the candidates are.

No, it will not be the political parties. As events are evolving, it might be the Supreme Court. The parties affected in the pending case questioning Grace Poe’s qualifications and the case of Duterte’s candidacy will not settle for any decision unless handed down by the final arbiter — the Supreme Court.

Even the candidacy of VP Binay may be derailed in case the Ombudsman and Sandigang Bayan decide to pursue non-bailable graft cases against Binay, and issue damaging arrest warrants. Definitely, VP Binay will fight this and will only bow to the Supreme Court’s final decision on the validity of the arrest warrant.

Will the Supreme Court be able to resolve these cases in time for the election? Or will the Court just let events take their natural course? Will decisions be based on what is politically palatable and expedient? Juan dela Cruz is holding his breath, and as the saying goes, sitting on pinheads.

Heartwarming

One of our readers introduces himself as Francisco Calanoc, CPSM, a supply chain consultant. He says he is a long-time reader, although this is the first time he has sent in his written views. Here’s a heartwarming thought that he sent through the mail recently:

“I want to say how I appreciate and admire what you write on almost a weekly basis on what direction the Philippines is going. I believe people should be aware of what is going on and it is the responsibility of business owners and government officials to direct where the country is going. (Let’s face it, the Philippines is controlled by specific families.)

“I was moved by your latest commentary ‘Much Ado about the Wrong Things,’ because time and time again whenever I give consultation talks to business owners or SMEs, this is how one would resolve issues: identify the goal, (decide)what actions to take to reach that goal, have a scorecard to validate if that goal is reached, and have someone accountable for it.

“I guess I was moved because with such an important topic and a well written commentary, the question I ask myself is ‘Will the government listen to a well thought-out plan?’

“Reading your article, you practically spoon-fed what needs to be done to address the problem they are facing. I do hope someone in government would take the time to read your article because it is very informative.

“As I end my letter, I want to give credit where credit is due. Please continue to write your commentaries as I am learning on a weekly basis – and I actually use your articles as references in my talks and posts in my FB account.

“Your knowledge of the business and political landscape is astounding that maybe one day I can sit down with you and we can discuss more about the landscape of the Philippines and the direction it is going.”

National Collegiate Championship changing landscape

The annual search for the best collegiate basketball team gives recognition to the efforts of schools to develop basketball as part of overall student sports program being undertaken all over the country. The collegiate basketball season regularly starts in April and ends December with over 250 school teams participating in annual tournaments conducted by 35 formally organized leagues.

The Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) is accredited by Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas (SBP) to organize and manage a nationwide multi-level tournament that will gather provincial league champions and top rank teams of major leagues, e.g., UAAP, NCAA, CESAFI, etc., to compete for the one national collegiate title.   

The 2015 National Collegiate Championship (NCC) is witnessing changes in the collegiate basketball landscape with different teams now competing for the national title, particularly those representing the major leagues. The teams that had dominated during the past decade are now being dislodged from the top positions by teams considered as weaker teams.

At CESAFI-Cebu, considered the strongest league in the southern islands, the University of San Carlos Warriors broke the hold of the University of Visayas Green Lancers and the Southwestern U Cobras, and convincingly won the 2015 CESAFI title.

With the feat, USC Warriors is in the elite eight phase of NCC and earned a trip to Manila where the knockout games leading to the championship will be held.

NCAA, the country’s oldest league, also has a new champion with the Colegio San Juan de Letran Knights stopping the historical run of San Beda College Red Lions in a thrilling three-game series. The two teams are also automatically in the Elite Eight phase of NCC and are likely to meet again on the road to the national championship.

San Beda Red Lions, last year’s national champion, is aiming for a back-to-back title, while Letran Knights will try to win its first national title as fitting end to the season.

The ongoing UAAP championship series feature teams that last met each other for the championship 36 years ago in 1979. The UST Growling Tigers and the FEU Tamaraws arranged the showdown by eliminating the NU Bulldogs and the ADMU Blue Eagles, respectively.

The changing of the guards in UAAP started last year when neither DLSU Green Archers nor ADMU Blue Eagles reached the finals.

The shifting landscape of collegiate basketball competitions is a sure sign that basketball programs conducted by schools remain robust and effective in developing pools of talents from where the national team and the professional league can recruit.

Schedule of regional and qualifying games

Coach Joe Lipa, executive director of PCCL, announced recently the schedule of regional championships of the 2015 National Collegiate Championship. Three more Elite Eight seats are up for grabs as qualified teams pass thru regional and qualifying competitions.

The Mindanao regional is done with Holy Trinity College from General Santos City as winner. The other regional games are: South Luzon-Bicol (Nov. 20-27 at Tanauan City and Naga City), North-Central Luzon (Nov. 30–Dec. 5 at Dagupan City); and Visayas Islands (Dec. 4-7 at Ormoc City).

Winners of regional games will advance to qualifying games and compete for three remaining slots in Elite Eight phase of National Collegiate Championship.

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Should you wish to share any insights, write me at Link Edge, 25th Floor, 139 Corporate Center, Valero Street, Salcedo Village, 1227 Makati City. Or e-mail me at [email protected]. For a compilation of previous articles, visit www.BizlinksPhilippines.net.