By Ronnie Nathanielsz

THE distressing conflicts in Philippine sports seem endless, with various National Sports Associations wracked by dissension while a major conflict has erupted between the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission over government interference in sports, which clearly violates the International Olympic Committee charter.

In recent days, we have been bombarded by text messages assailing the POC stance on more than one issue, in addition to attacks against the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines or BMPAP obviously from individuals sympathetic to the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines or from the BSCP itself. Trouble is, when we seek their identity, these individuals don?t answer.

It is very much like the so-called ranking official of the POC, who assailed POC president Peping Cojuangco and IOC representative Frank Elizalde on their stance, which included asking President Arroyo to replace Philippine Sports Commission chairman Harry Angping and hid behind the skirt of anonymity, which is to us, the refuge of cowards. People who have positions on issues need to have the guts to come out and identify themselves.

For anyone to claim that the Ultra, where the POC holds office, is owned by the government and run by the PSC and therefore the POC should effectively keep its mouth shut, is to miss the point completely. It?s about time we recognize that government is merely a steward and that the Ultra complex is actually owned by the people of this country just as the money people in government spend or often steal, is the people?s money, not theirs.

The claim that the President has the sole prerogative to appoint the PSC chairman is correct, but only on the surface because it does not preclude the POC and anybody for that matter suggesting changes in the system or proposing names of leaders with whom they could work harmoniously. Indeed, the failure to consult the POC leadership and even the PSC chairman on who the commissioners should be has caused problems from day one.

But let?s leave these distressing divisions and the cowards in our midst and thank God that despite the vicious in-fighting and meanness, which betray a lack of genuine concern for sports and the men and women who sacrifice in order to bring honor and glory for our country, there are still gallant and courageous athletes who continue to strive and do us proud.

The Philippine Davis Cup team, headed by the veteran Cecil Mamiit who, not that it matters to men of good sense, is a Fil-American, defeated a strong Hong Kong, China, team in the Asia-Oceania Zone Group II tie played in the former British crown colony over the weekend.

Mamiit, who had earlier played his guts out in partnership with another Fil-Am Treat Huey to win the crucial doubles after winning his opening singles match to give the Philippines a 2-1 lead, had to summon all his reserves of energy and his indomitable courage to overcome a talented US National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I youngster, 22-year-old Martin Sayer in a four-hour epic to clinch the victory. Whenever he was down and on the brink of defeat, Cecil proved his worth by fighting back to turn things around and to eventually triumph both for himself and his country. These are the glowing examples of Filipino athletes who lift our spirits and fill our hearts with unmistakable pride and joy.

Philta official Randy Villanueva kept texting us game-after-game, giving us an account of the match as it progressed with a constant appeal to us to pray for Cecil and the Philippines. That wasn?t hard to do because our faith is firm in the power of prayer, we have a great deal of respect and affection for Mamiit and indeed all our athletes and an abiding love for our country. Randy told us that Filipinos in the stands shed tears of joy when Mamiit ended the match with an ace, a fitting exclamation point to a heroic performance.

The exuberance and leadership qualities that Mamiit has shown in the years he has come home to represent the Philippines is an example worth emulating. He trained hard over the last four months to be able to help the national team and in the end, it paid off.

Of course, the nicest aspect of this memorable triumph was that it was achieved against a strong team in which two of the Hong Kong players were actually American educated and stars in the NCAA Division I collegiate circuit.

The hard work paid off and so did the quiet support of gentleman-sportsman Jean Henri Lhuillier. There are others like him including Oscar Hilado and Romy Chan. These are the kind of men of substance, who genuinely care for our athletes and whose unstinted support serve as an example of how things should be done? not men who seek positions to use them for their own ends, politically or financially.