CHICAGO - Having worked for a Cebu governor and a city mayor on separate occasions back in the 90s, I've observed first-hand that some job hirings rest on one qualification.
It's who the applicants know and not necessarily what they know.
Happens all the time, more so after every election cycle where a new administration takes over and brings in new hires to reward the most loyal and productive supporters.
READ Tenorio addresses 'palakasan' claims in Gilas Youth selection
Although LA Tenorio is extremely qualified as Gilas Youth coach, a case can be argued that being a Ginebra player at the time of his appointment last November helped his cause given that the SMC bloc - courtesy of the Big 3 of Alfrancis Chua, Tim Cone and Richard Del Rosario - now apparently runs the Gilas program.
While political patronage wasn't involved in the formation of 12 players during the recent Fiba U16 Asia Cup SEABA qualifiers, Tenorio has been accused of engaging in a sinister act that may have tilted the selection process.
INFLUENCE PEDDLING OR "PALAKASAN."
Keyboard warriors on social media insist that "some players only made the squad owing to being the sons and brothers of retired or current players connected to Tenorio."
Given how our culture has embraced or tolerated patronage and "palakasan in the workspace," the claim is not totally without merit, but it is also unfair to Chris Paul Miranda and Ethan Tan-Chi whose dads possess a connective PBA and UAAP tissue with Tenorio.
These kids should not be villainized for being born with famous last names. And even if, assuming, they don't pass the eye test on skills and physical attributes, there are other positives to lean on such as work ethic, attitude and basketball IQ.
"Kami nandito sa loob, we know kung anumang kailangan namin gawin. Alam namin ng mga players kung anong sistema gusto naming i-impart sa kanila at itakbo namin to be successful," Tenori said to defend his selection.
If there's a bone to pick here, it's the "fit the system," narrative, a gray area where fairness can somehow be lost in the crossover dribble.
WHERE'S THE BEEF?
If Tim Cone's system is the template here, then where are the Fil-Ams Cone relies heavily on to run it?
And did Tenorio even consider or open opportunities for Under-16 Fil-Ams to try out?
Anyway, Tenorio's predecessor was lathered with the same accusations of "palakasan" during his tenure, but Josh Reyes chose to not address it publicly.
Should Tenorio have just kept quiet, too, instead of legitimizing the issue with a response?
He had no choice, really. Silence would have aroused more suspicion and can be gleamed as an admission of bias.
In other words, this was a no-win for both Tenorio and the Samahang Basketbol Ng Pilipinas (SBP) which has had its more than fair share of alleged favoritism issues.
Let's call it a rock and a hard place.
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