Tiukinhoy riles at ‘discrimination’ of Cebuano players in UA 3x3 tilt

CEBU, Philippines - He's been silent for quite some time now but Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) commissioner Felix 'Boy' O. Tiukinhoy, Jr. wouldn't let this controversy pass without giving his two cents' worth.

Tiukinhoy said the decision of the organizers of the Under Armour Under-18 3x3 Basketball Tournament to have a selection of players that will compose the Philippine team for next month's FIBA 3x3 U18 Asia Cup in Malaysia despite the University of Cebu Webmasters emerging as the national champions is nothing less but a form of discrimination.           

Tiukinhoy reacted after reading reports that the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) has yet to come up with the final list of players who will fight for the flag and country in the FIBA tilt slated on May 26-28 at the Cyberjaya Gem-In Mall in Malaysia.

Manned by John Bryl Cuyos, John Emmanuel Bautista, Virlou Orquez and Alen Pelegrino, the UC Webmasters stunned two formidable SBP selections to dominate the UA 3x3 Southeast Asia Phl leg last Saturday at the Titan Love Court at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

That should have given earned the Webmasters a trip to Malaysia.

However, UA 3x3 rules stipulate that the winning team from the U18 categories can be selected to represent their country in the FIBA Asia Cup, but final decisions rest with the concerned national sports association.

In the case of Phl, the SBP has the last say on the matter being the country's governing body for basketball.

Still, Tiukinhoy isn't sold out to such proposition.

Tiukinhoy recalled a meeting at his office last month wherein UA 3x3 tournament commissioner Joe Lipa told him that the champion in the national finals will be sent to Malaysia. This writer was present during the meeting and can attest to what Tiukinhoy had claimed.

"When this was organized in Cebu, the meeting was held in my office. Joe Lipa, Atty. Merong Estenzo, a representative of Under Armour and another person and myself were present. Being the commissioner of the CESAFI, Joe Lipa asked my assistance to organize it," said Tiukinhoy.

"It was specifically mentioned by Joe Lipa that the champion in Cebu will be the team to be sent to Manila and whoever is the champion team will also be the one to be sent to Malaysia," he added. "How come there is now a selection of players to be sent to Malaysia. What Gives? Another discrimination. Had a Manila team been the champion, this would not have happened."

UC Webmasters team manager Atty. Baldomero "Merong" C. Estenzo has earlier expressed his dismay over the sudden twist of events, even to the extent of saying the move was 'ridiculous' and a 'big joke'.

"How can that be that no one from the champion team is chosen. I think they're joking," said Estenzo. "If  they opted for a selection, they should have conducted a tryout and not a tournament."

When sought comment, Lipa said nothing is official yet as of the moment, while SBP issued a statement saying it will evaluate things first before announcing the composition of Team Phl on May 5 in time for the deadline of the submission of lineup. (FREEMAN)