PARITY has long been a central talking point in the country’s collegiate and pro sporting leagues.
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In the college scene, for instance, loaded recruitment pursuits on so-called blue-chip talents give some teams a competitive leverage that isn’t available for the rest of the field.
This, in effect, denies leagues a sporting equilibrium that would ideally promote a balanced and level playing field
‘Talagang malabo’
Entering the 2024 Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Preseason Championship, with three-peat-seeking and reigning UAAP champion National University the expected favorites, questions on the competitiveness of the 18-team conclave were raised.
With all eight UAAP and 10 NCAA schools will participate in the annual preseason meet, will the playing field be as competitive and equal as one would expect?
For Jerry Yee, head coach of defending NCAA champion College of St. Benilde and UAAP’s University of the East, the answer is a firm no.
The reason for such negation? Disparity in school resources.
“Pareho ba ng recruitment? Pareho ba ‘yung resources? Pareho ba ‘yung interests ng recruits pumunta sa school na ‘yun or sa liga na ‘yun?,” said Yee.
“If from there, nakita niyo nang hindi pantay, talagang malabo.”
Will, or can, the playing field ever be equal?
A long shot as it might be in today’s college recruitment landscape, Yee knows equity in resources and recruitment opportunities are the solutions needed, given the presence of competent volleyball coaches in the college ranks.
“If everything will be equal, lahat may chances. Kahit sinong coach dito, nakita ko, nakilala ko, magagaling magturo ‘yan eh,” Yee said.
“Iba-iba lang ‘yung resources natin, iba-iba ‘yung interest, iba-iba ‘yung pumupunta sa’min sa pumupunta sa iba.”
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