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    Blackwater owner Sy 'offended, deeply hurt' by PBA, GAB actions

    Dioceldo Sy says he only wants to help the PBA get back on its feet. But instead of praises, he rued being sanctioned
    Jul 16, 2020

    BLACKWATER team owner Dioceldo Sy felt it was unfair to be chastised by the very institution he was just helping to get back on its feet.

    Sy said it was totally uncalled for the PBA and the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) of considering meting a fine against him for violating league and health protocols following the alleged workout the Elite did last Saturday.

    The 62-year-old executive believed he has committed no violations at all. Nor were there any workout held by his team as he had ‘mistakenly’ claimed in a guesting on Monday night in the online talk show Sports Page.

    Why sanction someone who has nothing but the interest of a league in mind amid the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sy said.

    “I felt something is wrong and uncalled for,” said the president and CEO of Ever Bilena Cosmetics Inc., mother franchise of Blackwater. “I felt offended and deeply hurt.”

    Just hours after being ordered by both the PBA and GAB to explain its side on the premature start to the team's workout, Sy went ballistics and announced that he was putting the Blackwater franchise up for sale for a staggering P150 million.

    Initially, Sy said he was just thinking of filing for a leave of absence from the league.

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    But after soul-searching the whole day of Wednesday, the businessman-sportsman credited for bringing to the country the likes of Asi Taulava and Jimmy Alapag, said the thought of selling the six-year-old franchise crossed his mind.

    “No more interest (in the PBA),” he said.

    On Thursday, Blackwater was fined P100,000 by the PBA for its premature return to practice. The players were also ordered to undergo swab testing, and, if negative and free from symptoms, go through a seven-time quarantine.

    Commissioner Willie Marcial said he is also launching a probe into the 'serious allegations' of Sy. The result of the probe will be forwarded to the board for appropriate action, he added.

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      In his own words, Sy felt like he was ‘being bullied’ despite his effort to help the PBA resume its season after operations had been shut down the last four months due to the pandemic.

      “I’m just helping out and show people things are beginning to get back to normal. To show the signs of hope and healing as a nation together,” he said.

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      “Dapat praises, not sanction.”

      Sy insisted no workout was held and said he used the wrong term when he was interviewed during the program.

      In Blackwater’s letter-reply to the PBA Commissioner’s Office, the team said Sy’s visit to the Aero gym – the training facility of the Elite – on Saturday was to discuss with members of the coaching staff and team management the preparations of safety protocols to be adopted by the team once workouts officially begin.

      It just so happened that upon Sy’s arrival, two Blackwater players were present doing some shooting drills on both ends of the court, according to the letter.

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      Sy thus used the term ‘practice,’ in view perhaps, of ‘his excitement over the much-awaited start of PBA activities.’

      As for the ‘four players in an hour or total of eight players in two hours,’ the team said Sy was only referring to the planned program of Blackwater, which is consistent with the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases)-approved protocols for the PBA.

      “The statement of DSS [Sy] during the interview must have all gotten mixed up, and thus it appeared as if Blackwater had already been doing ‘practice’ or physical conditioning despite the absence of a PBA directive for this purpose yet,” read part of the letter signed by board of governor Siliman Sy.

      “On behalf of the Blackwater team, I would like to apologize for the misapprehensions brought about by this miscommunication on our part,” said the team executive in conclusion. “Rest assured that we ensure proper observance of all PBA directives within the Blackwater team.”

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        Dioceldo insisted during his stay at the gym, all health protocols were observed including proper social distancing and the wearing of mask.

        Shortly after, everybody went straight home.

        “May mali ba doon?” said the Blackwater owner, adding the Elite are set to impose an even stricter health protocols than the one the league will implement.

        “PBA might even follow our protocols,” he said.

        By the way, Sy said the entire Elite team had already been tested previously and all the players and staff came out negative of COVID-19.

        Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph

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