Temporary madness hits Sy
FOR allowing his players to practice sans the green light for it from the PBA (Philippine Basketball Association) officialdom, Blackwater Elite owner Dioceldo Sy was fined P100,000.
This is on top of PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial’s order for Sy’s players to undergo Covid-19 swab testing and, even if found negative of the coronavirus, to go on a seven-day quarantine.
Those found positive are subject to sanitation procedures by the Department of Health (DOH), like a 14-day quarantine, isolation or complete hospital confinement.
What Sy had clearly violated is the league’s set date of restart on July 22 allowing for individual practices.
The 45th season, following the onset worldwide of Covid-19 in February, was cancelled after the March 8 opener between San Miguel Beer and Magnolia won by the Beermen.
In an uncalled for outburst on Wednesday, Sy, after he was informed of the impending fine for allowing two of his players to undergo individual practice, said he’d put his Blackwater up for sale in an obvious fit of anger and frustration.
“Maybe, it’s just an impulsive reaction,” said Raymond Yu, the Rain or Shine coowner, of Sy’s statement.
“You just don’t say that [ sell your team] ,” said a piqued Ricky Vargas, the PBA chairman. “His statements are serious… that he (Sy) has to deal with in the board.”
He reminded Sy of a league rule saying that a team can only be sold with a board approval, even questioning Sy’s commitment to the PBA.
“The board needs to know it [the sale], and approve of it first,” said Vargas in a pointed dig at Sy’s stunning announcement to sell Blackwater for P150 million.
But Sy turned from bitterly vocal to cemetery silent after absorbing the P100,000fi ne.
“I think it’s better to be quiet now,” Sy told the Inquirer’s Denison Rey A. Dalupang.
Sy was clearly in violation of PBA rules because a system on practice protocols are yet to be finalized for adoption by all 12 teams five days from now.
I can’t totally blame Sy as it is nature’s way that we lose our cool at times. That is why anger is also defined as temporary madness. Ouch!