WELL, it’s another elegant shot for Ramon “El Presidente” Fernandez.

A game-winner even.

Back in the roaring 80s, Fernandez the player would always score the most points, get the most rebounds or deliver the most assists to secure the victory for his team and earn individual accolades.

Just like old times, Fernandez the official is again stepping up to the plate to make the big difference.

And almost three decades since his retirement in 1994, the 68-year-old basketball legend from Cebu is still doing it the old-fashioned Fernandez way.

You see, Fernandez is now lending his voice to what the next sports leaders need to do to sustain the gains of the Filipino athletes the past six years.

The four-time PBA MVP-turned-PSC commissioner was very presidentiable when he guested in the recent “Sports on Air”, the newest weekly podcast on Facebook and YouTube.

Listen to him.

On the legacy that the PSC would leave behind after June 30 this year:

“One thing for sure, after June 30, wala na kami. We are resigned because we are appointees of President Duterte. But we’re very proud of our PSC’s achievements under President Duterte.

We have also put in policies that can really help the next administration. Susundan na lang nila dahil everything is in place already.

But we were able to accomplish a lot because of the leadership of President Digong. Yan ang kauna-unahang niyang pinagbilin kay Chairman at sa aming lahat na alagaan talaga ang mga atleta.

Ang daming itinakdang benefits sa mga atleta. They (athletes) never had it so good. Napadali ang trabaho namin because we are being fully supported fully by the Office of the President.

Nagpapasalamat din kami na suportado kami ng mga kaibigan natin in both Houses of Congress — House and Senate. Ang ginawa na lang namin is put in the right programs.”

On Republic Act No. 6847, or the law creating the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC):

“Obviously, there’s a need to amend RA 6847, which was enacted to provide leadership and direction for all national amateur sports with particular emphasis on grassroots participation.

Isang importanteng dapat ngayon gawin ng mga mambabatas natin ay i-amend.ang RA 6847. Higit 32 years nang hindi man lang na-amend ang PSC Charter maski konti. Meron mga provision na silent masyado like in the supervisory and visitoral powers of PSC over the NSAs. Medyo malabo at hindi talaga direkta.”

On the six-year term limit of the PSC Chairman and commissioners:

“One suggestion we have on mind is the term of the commissioners, na dapat siguro na baguhin. Yun parang sa Senado, na may kalahating bagong papasok at kalahating maiiwan. This is important for continuity. Like what happened in our case, and the previous adminstrations, parang nagsisimula uli. Dapat may carry-over na mga commissioners para magkaka-tugma ang mga polisiya at desisyon.”

On the success of the PSC Children’s Games and its resumption even after their term of office is over:

“This was a brainchild of Chairman Butch Ramirez). He started Children’s Games in Davao when he was the sports development head there. Napakagandang programa ito kaya we implemented it during our time. Nagkataon lang ang pinaka-maraming nagawang Children’s Games ay sa Visayas. Except for five provinces, most of the big cities and municipalities in the Visayas napasyalan na namin. Sa Children’s Games, na-introduce natin ang mga bata 12 and under to sports. Lahat sila binigyan natin ng t-shirt at may libreng pagkain for the two days they are playing. May mga parlor games at regular sports. But this is basically an introduction. Yun mamulat ang mga bata that sports is good, sports is healthy. Lahat sila may mga medalya din na masasabit sa kanilang mga bahay para lalong ma-encourage to pick up a sport or two. We wanted to duplicate it in Mindanao and in Luzon area pero kulang talaga ang funding ng PSC.”

On the importance of promoting grassroot sports:

“I truly believe that the only way we can identify and develop these young kids is to have quarterly competitions. Hindi lang puro training at practice, they have to compete. It’s competitions that really improve them. Yung real, honest-to- goodness grassroots program hindi lang dapat once a year, gaya ng Batang Pinoy, or yun Philippine National Games, na every two years. Medyo napabayaan lang dahil pumasok ang Asian Games, SEA Games at Tokyo Olympics. Tapos tinamaan pa tayo ng COVID kaya naapektuhan lahat, pati yun bigay ng PAGCOR simula 2020. Pero malaking tulong pa din sila. I would venture to say 80 percent of what we regularly get from PAGCOR, napupunta sa mga elite athletes pa lang.”

On life after his PSC (Philippine Sports Commission) days:

“Sabi nga, once a sportsman always a sportsman. I already re-activated the Ramon S. Fernandez Sports development foundation. I will also be involved sa Atletang Pilipino whether or not we can join the next party-list election sa 2025. I think Atletang Pilipino can do our projects, especially now that we have regional members in different provinces and cities. Aayusin natin yun pagpapatakbo ng grassroots sports program natin, lalo na sa mga provinces. So madami pa din tayong pagkaka-abalahan. Hindi lang puro fishing, golf at farming.”

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Happy birthday to my inaanak, John Francis A. Ypil of the Philippine National Police, who celebrated last February 1.

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Ed Andaya