Ateneo withdrawal from NCAA 1978 Season

Sports Event Flashback : Ateneo withdrawal from NCAA 1978 Season

Source : Assorted Magazines (PBA Archives Collections)

The Game Fixer
by A. S. Mendoza in Sports World Magazine dated September 30 1977

ATENEO'S WITHDRAWAL FROM NCAA CAGEFEST
IS NOT A WISE DECISION

We classify a decision as either right or wrong. If a decision is right, it is wise; if a decision is wrong, it is unwise. This is a rule we should always bear in our mind. Last week, Fr. Jose Cruz, president of Ateneo, came up with a decision which called for the suspension of Ateneo's participation in next year's NCAA basketball tournament. The reason advanced by Fr. Cruz was the unabated rowdiness and violence during almost every NCAA game. Fr. Cruz, in his letter to Bro. Gabriel Connon, president of the NCAA policy board, said: "I was forced to make this decision for the protection of the students and the general public. I also find it imperative on account of our stated commitment to the Christian education of the youth." Fr. Cruz was particularly referring to the San Beda-Ateneo matches which almost ended in riots among students from both camps. The Ateneo president was apparently sad when he said in his letter: "The final series of games between San Beda and Ateneo has been particularly painful... Last Sunday's game in which Ateneo won the second round pennant ended with the floor literally a mess of rcoins, marbles, dry ice, golf balls, nuts and bolts, paper, and other potentially lethal objects."  This column believes that Fr. Cruz' decision was not wise. Suspending Ateneo's participation in the NCAA cagefest will not mean that violence will become a thing of the past. There are still seven schools left Letran, San Beda, San Sebastian, La Salle, Trinity, Jose Rizal, Mapua. At first glance, it would seem that Fr. Cruz did a wise decision. But in the ultimate analysis, it would appear that Fr. Cruz: decision had only put Ateneo into an unpopular stand. Meaning, it is as if it were Ateneo that has been doing or instigating rowdiness all these years in the NCAA and its withdrawal from the tournament would mean the end of violence in the league. The heart of the matter is that almost all of the eight member schools in the NCAA are always in for a tough battle in every game and almost during after every match, students would resume their wars outside the coliseum. Surely, Atein next neo's non-participation year's NCAA will not end violence in the league. The students are the primary culprits in this maniacal rowdiness that has been plaguing the NCAA year in and year out. Their fanatical outbursts often led them to lawlessness that they turn into instant psychophants living out of mental asylums. It is indeed a puzzling phenomenon: students from schools who are supposed to be carrying the finest traditions of christian brotherhood but unfortunately are currently turning into vanguards of vandalism and barbarism. If this violence goes unchecked in the NCAA league, there is no one to blame but the students. In the same breath, however, are the elders in the schools amiss in their duty to teach the real meaning of peace and order? For, isn't it that schools are supposed to be the breeding ground for good citizens of our country? As it is, the NCAA is slowly becoming the hotbed of hooliganism among students. Ateneo's withdrawal from next year's NCAA cagefest is not a wise decision. What Fr. Cruz should have done was to move for the temporary suspension of the NCAA cagefest, say for about a year or two. And during the lull, a massive education: on how to properly watch NCAA games should be carried out by each member school in the NCAA to its students. Fr. Cruz has still time to revoke his decision. Anyway he's only human: And humans err.