While I am very proud and happy over San Miguel’s winning the Jones Cup, I am deeply embarrassed, as a Filipino, by Ronnie Nathanielsz play-by-play account of the Monday’s championship game with the United States.

Nathanielsz made us look like a bunch of poor losers and bad winners.

When the Philippines was behind, Nathanielsz emoted like a Calcutta beggar, bewailing all the disadvantages our team faced. He told the world that the mere fact that our team was playing for the championship was already a great moral victory ("How can we win against the most powerful nation in the world?"). Nathanielsz was preparing us for defeat.

But when Philippines was ahead, Nathanielsz stopped bad-mouthing our chances and started shamelessly gloating like an Indian untouchable who had won first prize in the Tamil Nadu lottery.

The only saving grace is that most of those who listened to Nathanielsz were residents of the Philippines who have long learned to make allowances for Nathanilesz’ queer notions of professional sportscasting.
 

WILSON G. ABAYA