Tennis resolution in sight
International Tennis Federation (ITF) vice president and Asian Tennis Federation (ATF) president Anil Kumar Khanna of India is arriving today to confer with stakeholders of Philippine tennis in resolving the unsettled issue of recognition of the Philippine Tennis Association (Philta). ITF president David Haggerty had previously set deadlines of Nov. 15 and Dec. 4 for Philta to comply with reportorial requirements under penalty of suspension from participating in official team competitions like the Davis Cup, Asian Games and Southeast Asian Games.
Khanna asked Philta president Atty. Antonio Cablitas to convene a meeting tomorrow with the Philta Board of Trustees, POC president Jose Cojuangco, Jr., POC first vice president Joey Romasanta, POC secretary-general Steve Hontiveros and PSC chairman Butch Ramirez to end the impasse of recognition as the POC has refused to sanction the last three Philta elections. Cablitas said he will host the meeting in Khanna’s presence at the Century Park Hotel starting at 10 in the morning and has invited media to witness the proceedings.
“The ITF president has desired that with my personal intervention and the blessing of the ATF Board, we will close the matter and thereafter, I will proceed with the matter of recognition from the ITF to Philta,” said Khanna. The ITF and ATF official said he intends “to bring a finality” to the problem.
Cablitas, 69, said he was elected as Philta president in compliance with the By-Laws last June. Upon the resignation of Philta president Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez in 2016, there were three elections held but none was sanctioned by the POC. The third election brought in Cablitas as candidate and he won on the majority vote of the Board.
“I’ve been a trial and litigation lawyer for 42 years and I know what constitutes compliance with the By-Laws in conducting a legal election,” said Cablitas, also the Presidential adviser on investments. “This is my second coming at Philta. Back in 1986, I resolved a leadership problem in Philta involving Mayor Pablo Olivarez and Col. Buddy Andrada. I got everyone together and I served as vice president for six years. That was when I got hooked to tennis. I started playing myself and Rod Rafael, Ringo Navarrosa and Bobby Angelo became my protégés. I brought in Mitsubishi to sponsor the first international juniors tournament in Manila and it remains a regular event in the calendar. I gathered sponsors and got Philta back on track. When Philta was back airborne, I bid goodbye as it was time for others to take over while I focused on other matters.”
Cablitas said his election followed the provisions of the Philta By-Laws. “There were three notices of election,” he said. “Quorum was established. Compliance was evident. I find no reason why the POC or anyone or any entity refuses to recognize the results. I realize the need for democratic reforms and revisiting the By-Laws. My commitment to Philta is to put the house in order. I have no intention to perpetuate myself in office. Two more years are left in my term as president and within that period, I intend to institute democratic reforms that will pave the way for a new president in the next elections. I don’t want an old boys club. We are a corporate body governed by our Constitution and By-Laws and our acts are on safe grounds.”
Cablitas said there has been no move to formally nullify his election. “Nothing has been filed in court,” he said. “This is about propriety and decency. Last November, I attended the ATF Annual General Meeting in Jakarta and brought documents to show Mr. Haggerty that my election was legal according to the By-Laws. I met with Mr. Khanna who told me he would visit Manila to resolve the issue.”
Since his election, Cablitas said he has reached out to stakeholders in creating a consolidated effort to push Philippine tennis forward. “I have no quarrel with reform but let’s do it in the proper order within the Board,” he said. “I’m not a rubber stamp of anybody. My interest is to improve the state of Philippine tennis. What I did in 1986, I will do again. So far, I’ve already put out close to P1 Million of my own money for tennis. I gave P700,000 for the PCA Open and I just gave P50,000 for the uniforms of our Philippine team to the Davis Cup. I’d rather spend my own money than money from sponsors which I call trusted money. I don’t bend for anyone.”
Cablitas said he welcomes dictation if well-guided and in the spirit of sport and camaraderie. “I’m for conciliation,” he said. “I’m not out to drumbeat but programs are now being laid out all over the country for the development of our players. I’m prepared to support a real grassroots program. I want to professionalize our coaches, send them abroad and someday, I’d like to see a Filipino umpire in the Grand Slams. I’d like two individuals in every region to carry out our mission – one, a person with passion for tennis but no means and the other, a financier. Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao will be on equal footing. I have nothing to gain on a personal basis in doing these things. All I want is to do good for tennis and after two more years, I will leave the mantle of leadership to my successor whoever he or she is.”