NAGBIGAY paalala si Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William Ramirez ukol sa tinatawag na “moral challenges” sa sports kasunod ng diumano’y naging pagsuway sa quarantine protocols ng pamahalaan ag University of Santo Tomas (UST) men’s basketball team.

Sa media statement na inilabas ng ahensya, bagamat di nito direktang binanggit ang UST, ibinahagi naman ni Ramirez, isang educator at naging professor, ang pag-aaalala sa sinasabing isinagawang training ng isang unibersidad sa Sorogon.

“The issue is much bigger than sports and questions our priorities as a society,” ani Ramirez

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“Does winning always mean everything else takes second place? Are we so focused on winning that we are ready to compromise important matters like the safety of the youth we are supposed to guide?”tanong ng PSC Chief?

“Is the athletic development and achievement, or team readiness more paramount that overstepping bounds, compromising one’s safety or putting your team credibility on the line takes a back seat?” dagdag pa nito.

Nakatakda aniyang panindigan ng PSC ang mga alituntunin ng gobyerno bilang bahagi ng Inter-Agency Task Forcecna inatasang mamahala at kumontrol sa mga pisikal na aktibidad sa gitna ng ating kinakaharap na coronavirus pandemic.

“We made every effort to send home every one of our more than 1,600 national athletes home. Their safety weighs more than any color of honor that continued training may produce,” ayon pa kay Ramirez. “Your life, dear athletes, is more important than any medal could ever equal.”

Sinimulan ng kausapin ng mga PSC officials ang mga kinatawan ng UAAP, kasama ng Games and Amusement Board (GAB)at Department of Health (DOH) upang talakayin ang sinasabing pahlkabag ng UST Growling Tigers sa quarantine protocols.