Year of transition

The year 2022 had been truly special for the Philippine Sports Commission.

For one, the government funding arm for sports started the year with William “Butch” Ramirez as chairman before Jose Emmanuel “Noli” Eala took over.

But barely few days left before the year bids goodbye, a major shakeup happened.

Eala was replaced by Richard Bachmann, marking the first time in the agency’s 22-year history to be led by three chairpersons in a span of one year.

The year started on a high note.

With the athletes riding the momentum of Hidilyn Diaz’s golden performance in the Tokyo Olympics, Ramirez and commissioners Ramon Fernandez, Charles Maxey, Celia Kiram and Arnold Agustin were at their best in supporting the Philippine Olympic Committee in its bid to come up with a successful participation in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi.

Fernandez was appointed as chief of mission, inspiring the national delegation with his vast knowledge, managerial skills and, of course, stature being one of the best Filipino basketball players ever.
The result was impressive.

The national athletes responded, gifting Ramirez and his commissioners with a total haul of 52 gold, 70 silver and 104 bronze medals for a fourth-place finish.

Few weeks later, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. formally assumed power and the five-man PSC board of commissioners tendered its courtesy resignation to give way for the new set of leaders.

“It’s really time to go,” Ramirez told teary-eyed PSC employees during his final flag-raising ceremony.

“But without pretension, if the new President and Executive Secretary offer me the position to be retained, I will be honored to accept it.”

In a conversation with Daily Tribune shortly before formally leaving the agency, the 72-year-old sports administrator said he feels that there is still a lot to be done.

“I am a healthy 72. I can still get the job done,” Ramirez, the chief architect of the country’s two SEA Games overall titles, said.

“Given the opportunity to serve again by the President of the country, I will run Philippine sports more efficiently.”

“But on the same note, we are also prepared for the arrival of the incoming chairman and board of commissioners. We are ready for transition.”

Shortest stint
But it took a while before Ramirez’s successor stepped into the historic grounds of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Although a commissioner in bowling great Olivia “Bong” Coo got the appointment weeks before, Eala, a well-loved sports broadcaster, was tapped as PSC chief on 30 August — two months since President Marcos took his oath of office.

Save for his sterling credentials of being an Ateneo de Manila University law graduate, former Philippine Basketball Association commissioner, former Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director, former San Miguel Corporation sports director and vice president for corporate affairs of motorcycle taxi company JoyRide Philippines, it was Eala’s closeness to Executive Secretary Atty. Victor Rodriguez that is said to have led to his appointment as PSC chief.

In fact, Rodriguez’s brother, Edwin Rodriguez, served as the business development manager of JoyRide, giving Eala an inside track in the coveted appointment.

But regardless of his political connection, Eala still hit the ground running.

As soon as he got appointed, he opened his office to various stakeholders — from athletes to coaches, sports officials, sportswriters, and local government executives.

His first activity — the PSC-National Sports Association Consultative Meeting at the Philippine International Convention Center — was a success as sports leader were finally on the same page with the government funding agency.

“We assured the NSAs that we will respect their autonomy. However, it must be a responsible autonomy,” said Eala, whose niece, Alex, is emerging into one of the country’s fast-rising stars.

“This consultative meeting is just a start of our continuous coordination and working with the NSAs. The reception of NSAs is very positive, 68 out of 74 attended the meeting. I am very thankful for their support.”

Aside from establishing solid relationships with sports stakeholders, Eala also penned the roadmap back to the golden age of Philippine sports.

He took a page from the Project: Gintong Alay program of Michael Keon, the uncle of President Marcos, and turned it into Project: Gintong Laban program for the elite and “Duyan ng Magiting” or the “Cradle of the Brave” program for grassroots athletes.

He also spearheaded the staging of Batang Pinoy in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, marking the first time for the PSC to hold a multi-sport tourney in the time of the pandemic.

But his run at the PSC didn’t last long.

When his principal, Rodriguez, stepped down in October, Eala’s found himself walking on eggshells.

Malacañang sources stressed that all appointments made by the former Executive Secretary, including Eala, will be recalled to give way for a new batch of executives personally handpicked by the President.

Two months later, the appointment of Bachmann broke out.

Eala, the former cage executive with a baritone voice, silver hair and megawatt smile, had been replaced, making him the PSC chairman with the shortest stint of four months.

Still, he walked away from the agency with his head held high.

“My brief stint in the PSC gave me an opportunity to once again serve with passion in a field I hold close to my heart,” Eala said in a statement.

“With all humility, I can say that I gave dignity and respect to the position of Chairman and worked tirelessly for Philippine sports.”

“As I leave, I am at peace knowing that in the months I served, I care for all our athletes and Philippine sports like no other.”

Surprise appointment
Four days before the year ends, Malacañang pulled off a New Year shocker when it tapped Bachmann — the son of cage great Kurt Bachmann — as PSC chief.

The appointment came as a surprise.

First, Bachmann wasn’t really in the mix when the potential successors of Ramirez started floating. In fact, it was his brother — squash president Robert Bachmann — who was often mentioned as the frontrunner to become the next PSC chairman.

The issue of having Robert lead the PSC died down when Eala took over.

But when Rodriguez resigned, speculations have it that Robert’s application letter had been re-activated, making him a cinch to become the next PSC chief.

But it was a different Bachmann who got the appointed.

The 58-year-old Bachmann quietly filed his application despite juggling the roles of being the chairman of the Philippine Basketball Association 3×3 tourney, commissioner of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines and head of operations of the local organizing body of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.

Surprisingly, he got the appointment.

“It’s a huge honor and I would like to thank the President for his trust and confidence in me,” said Bachmann, who didn’t see the appointment coming that he was in a vacation in the United States with his family when the news broke out.

Aside from Bachmann, also appointed were sports commissioners Edward Hayco and Walter Torres.

Hayco used to head the Cebu City Sports Council while Torres was a former national fencer and secretary general of the Philippine Paralympian Association.

Bachmann said his priority will be the PSC.

“I will be meeting with PBA commissioner Willie Marcial, UAAP executive director Rebo Saguisag, FIBA LOC management to discuss the next steps on my current responsibilities as soon as I get back.”
Sure, the PSC had three chairmen in a span of one year, but it didn’t mean that the agency was in disarray.

It just so happened that the office is so crucial in the agenda of the current administration that the Chief Executive wants only the best, honest and capable official with the heart of an athlete to run it.