Gun-less Shooting

Don’t be fooled. She may be the busiest woman in the city these days but Acting Mayor Sara Duterte has time for sports.

She understands sports, and don’t dare her to engage in sports talk. You might be in for a big surprise.

Last Saturday afternoon, Sara opened the AFP-PNP 24th Kadayawan Invitational Cup basketball tournament in Bankerohan. It was not just her presence that inspired the participants. She pitched well to double the prize and then talked about how poor our National Team fared in the Jones Cup.

There are those who are into sports, for the sake of having a sports program. But the heart isn’t there.

Inday Sara is a different breed. She’s grounded. And you can’t fool her even with your craziest crossover. Not even Bong Go’s sweet-shooting hands.

Rarely will there be a tournament for men in the armed forces and all agencies engaged in security and peace-keeping. In short, all payers in this tournament are legally allowed to carry and fire guns. You have the policemen, SAF, Rangers, Air Force, SWATs and jailguards. All sorts of men in the firing line. It’s all in one league.

Now, when you put all these men together, you can only hope they won’t shoot each other. Rather, they just shoot baskets not bullets.

With a doubled pot, Inday Sara hopes it doesn’t get nasty. “Just play ball,” was her reminder.

Perhaps the only one team you can say is the least ‘dangerous’ is the City Mayor’s Office team. CMO players don’t brandish guns but they have the hottest pistolero this part of the West—Bong Go. He’s the Sheriff. He scores when he wants. Too good to leave open. You got to shackle him with handcuffs or throw a battalion of soldiers to silence him.

As it is though, this is but sports. Fierce it may seem to be competing against each other, the unwritten rule is ceasefire to unnecessary physical contacts. When push comes to shove, the refs are in control. No official of higher rank can influence-peddle the refs. The refs are the Generals.

In case it goes haywire, call Inday Sara.

Don’t be a bad soldier. Just play. This gun-less game’s for you.