PSC chairman bats for change in SEA Games’ eligibility rules
PHNOM PENH—If it’s not allowed in the Olympics, it should not be allowed in the Southeast Asian Games.
Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richard “Dickie” Bachmann on Sunday expressed his strong opinion on the rampant use of naturalized players in the biennial games in the aftermath of the Philippines’ heartbreaking setback in the 3x3 men’s basketball at the hands of a Cambodian team that had all three American cagers on the playing court.
A physically imposing Cambodian squad of naturalized players, 6’2” Darrin Dorsey, 6’8” Brandon Peterson and 6’6” Sayeed Pridgett manhandled a Filipino side of Almond Vosotros, Lervin Flores, Joseph Eriobu and Joseph Sedurifa in the finals, 15-20, to give the host its first-ever gold in the sport.
Dorsey and Peterson are teammates with the Jordan club Orthodox Amman of the West Asia Super League, while Pridgett currently plays for Greece’s Karditsa.
Tep Chhorath is the team’s only pure Cambodian player, who never played a single second in the finale.
The SEA Games has its own set of rules on eligibility as it allows countries to field in as many naturalized players as they wish, a ruling which Cambodia took advantage of to the fullest. In the Olympic Games, which follow FIBA rules, only one naturalized player is allowed.
“Kudos to our 3x3 team, we have actually improved from our bronze finish in Vietnam, and now, challenging a foreign Cambodia team. It is tough,” said Bachmann, a former basketball player himself. “I wouldn’t call it unfair, because it is legal now. But it (rules) is something SEA Games has to talk about. On a personal note, I just feel that if it’s not allowed in the Olympics, it should not be allowed in events in the SEA Games or the Asian Games.”
But while the PSC chief offered his opinion on the matter, there is also the side that the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas has a control of.
“This morning, we were discussing with SBP already on how to improve and move forward,” said Bachmann, who with his commissioners Olivia “Bong” Coo and Fritz Gaston, nevertheless, are satisfied of the Filipino athletes’ performance, while hoping that their early success is sustainable until the finish.
“So far, I’m very happy. It’s a good start, hopefully we can retain it,” said Bachmann in a brief huddle with Filipino sportswriters covering the games.