Philippine Sports News and Updates

AS FAR AS YEN MAKABENTA is concerned, there is no conflict of interest in his serving as chair of the Billiards & Snooker Congress of the Philippines and being president of Raya Sports.

This charge, aired by the newly formed Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines, has no basis in fact and in law, according to Makabenta in a statement sent to the Inquirer Saturday.

“The suggestion that to avoid ‘conflict of interest’ a BSCP official must be free of business or professional interest in our sport would negate the very purpose of our association,” said Makabenta. “It would consign the BSCP to the leadership of individuals, who can’t do anything to help Philippine pool development.”

Makabenta said other BSCP officials likewise have similar business and professional interest in pool, like treasurer Sebastian Chua, who is the president of Star Paper Corporation.

In his defense, Makabenta cited the Billiards Congress of America, the governing body for billiards in the United States, which has as officers and members executives representing billiards companies and associations. Ivan Lee, president of Ivan Simonis, is the president while Sean Cummings of Brunswick Billiards is the treasurer.

Makabeta explained that “conflict of interest in law and business ethics applies to a situation wherein a person has a duty to more than one person or organization and cannot do justice to the actual or potential adversary interest of both parties.”

In contrast, both the BCA and the BSCP “encourage the participation of billiard companies in the association because their goals converge around the common objective of advancing billiard sports.”

Makabenta also clarified that the BSCP does not receive any funding from the Philippine Sports Commission as “whatever the PSC allocates for billiards are directly paid to the individual payees or activities being funded.

“This includes allowances for coaches and players, and the payment for the travel of players abroad.”

Raya, according to Makabenta, was put up because the Philippine sports system relies on private associations to do the work of sports development and promotions.