Will Philta finally tread correct path?

Had the group followed the correct process, the political intramurals in the past eight months wouldn't have been necessary. Anyway, this time around, I hope Philta finally puts tennis as its no. 1 concern.

A massive pullout of two private sponsors finally reminded long-time Philippine Tennis Association president Buddy Andrada to follow through on his promise and quit as president of an organization he led since the 1980s.

The problem started last year, when the former president Edwin Olivarez resigned after he won a post in the 2016 elections. There would have been no problems if the group followed the proper line of succession and had vice president Randy Villanueva assume as president. But, to go along the theme of Philippine sports, where self interests are more important than that of the sport's, they had a snap election that installed Andrada as president.

And oh, Andrada left Philta because he was appointed as commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission of then chairman Ritchie Garcia, who got his post thanks to POC president Peping Cojuangco. Andrada won the snap elections, an election that Villaneuva's camp contested.

So, during an intervention meeting with the POC and the International Tennis Federation, Andrada promised to resign and hand over the reins of Philta to a new president.

Why did Andrada return? I can only speculate. Peping, the guy who got him the PSC spot, needed all the votes for the POC elections that November and perhaps persuaded him to go for another run. Remember, Andrada's resignation was supposed to be effective after the POC elections. You may connect the dots. But, like Peping who reneged on a promise to resign, Andrada reneged on his promise too, telling stakeholders the post as president wasn't open for contest in a board meeting that saw Jean Henrie Lhuillier and Villanueva walk out. The two said they have long planned to contest Andrada's election but decided not to push through with it because the guy promised to resign.

It turns out, they got played, and got played well.

So, they decided to join the game.

Days later, Lhuillier and Bobby Castro released a joint-statement saying both the Cebuana Lhuillier and Palawan Pawnshop age group tournaments--which comprise 80 percent of Philta's tournaments--were pulling out their support and will conduct their events outside of Philta's banner.

That was supposed to be the first of a series of pullouts of private support for Philta, which has relied on private sponsors for support of its grassroots programs and even national teams for years.

However, Andrada finally gave up and offered his resignation, which will be effective on Monday, leaving the post open for contest.

That pretty much puts Philta in the same situation it was in last year, when the previous president resigned. And had the group followed the correct process, the political intramurals in the past eight months wouldn't have been necessary. (Don't you just love Philippine sports?)

Anyway, this time around, I hope Philta finally puts tennis as its no. 1 concern.