PSC chair Bachmann bats for unified sports program

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Richard “Dickie” Bachmann goes on an observation tour around the country to get a clearer picture of the situation on the ground and from there make an assessment in the hope of creating a unified grassroots program for the Filipino athletes.

Bachmann, in his first visit to Cebu since his appointment as PSC chief late last year, noted that there are so many grassroots programs in the country, not only the PSC and NSAs, but even some politicians that he wanted it fixed and be unified.

“We have so many grassroots programs.We have the PSC’s, we have all the NSAs and their sports programs.

Even the government, the politicians, they have their own programs,” Bachmann said.

With this, Bachmann said there is a need for him to meet the different stakeholders and check on their respective activities.

“I’ll go around muna and understand their grassroots program, kasi nga iba-iba,” Bachmann said.

Having a unified grassroots program in the country is expected to produce more local talents to represent the country in international events in the future.

“I do agree having Filforeign athletes for now, pero we also have to look for a pure Filipino (homegrown) talents,” Bachmann said.

On the other hand, Bachmann, a former pro cager, wants the youngsters to be exposed to different kind of sports and focus not just on basketball.

That is why Bachmann is very happy to find out that in Cebu especially in Cebu City, various sporting disciplines are being played by the young athletes that he even took the time to play with them in two of the city’s training grounds, the Labangon Elementary School and the Cebu City Sports Center.

Bachmann sees Cebu as a key province for grassroots development.

“There is so much talent. Cebu would be a key city/ province for grassroots. Comm Hayco (Edward) is doing a good job here and the key here is to sustain everything,” Bachmann said, referring to Edward Hayco, once the longest serving chairman of the Cebu City Sports Commission who is now one of his commissioners at the PSC.

“Not only grassroots’ training, yung tournaments din. Kasi yung mga bata, after a while, tatamarin na yan eh. How can you test their skills if they don’t have competition, so dapat we can figure out this all with the other commissioners,” Bachmann added.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS OUT TO MAKE WAVES... The municipality of San Remigio in northern Cebu formally unveils its Golden State Warriors-inspired sports complex during the opening of the AL for ALL Mayor’s Cup 2023 Men’s Basketball League recently. The other photo shows San Remigio Mayor Al Pestolante (L) together with noted Cebuano skills trainer and coach Jeff Codera. A member of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors training camp and a licensed Gold coach of USA Basketball, Codera is also the town’s sports consultant and head coach for basketball.

ALDO NELBERT BANAYNAL The top honchos of PSC led by chairman Richard “Dickie” Bachmann and commissioners Edward Hayco, Bong Coo, and Walter Torres come in full force to Cebu City for the first time to observe the city’s multi-sport grassroots program last Thursday, March 2.