Gullas rants after being told to shoulder team’s airfare to PCCL Regional C’ships

Because of what he believes is unfair treatment given to provincial teams, University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers team manager Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas said he may pull out the three-time defending Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) men’s champions from the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL).

Gullas, in a lengthy post on his personal Facebook page, indicated that he is considering this move after he was informed that the school was to shoulder the airfare costs of the team for the Visayas-Mindanao Regional Championship on December 5 in Davao City.

“I’m sorry UV Green Lancers for all your hard work and preparation. But if this remains the same, the UV Green Lancers will not participate in the upcoming PCCL,” Gullas said.

The Green Lancers are coming off a successful title conquest of the Cesafi, the third straight year that they have come out on top. Gullas said that they were actually looking forward to squaring off against the Manila-based teams.

“We were excited to face other top teams in the country, but what does PCCL do? They say, UV must pay for the airfare of all players and coaches to Davao and if ever we win, we must pay for the airfare to Manila, then [they’ll take care of] food and lodging,” said Gullas.

“Assuming we do that, if they do not even want to pay for airfare, what do you think the food and accommodation will be? Baka ano-ano lang ipakain sa amin? Baka we get to stay in a hotel hours away from the playing court,” said Gullas, referring to the 2015 incident when the Green Lancers were made to travel three hours to Batangas to face off against a Technological Institute of the Philippines squad that was billeted in Tanauan. On that very same trip, the Green Lancers also had to push the bus they were on after it conked on the South Luzon Expressway.

“Alkansi gyud perme ang provincial teams sama sa UV Green Lancers (The provincial teams like the UV Green Lancers always get the short end of the stick),” said the youthful sportsman and politician.
Gullas said the PCCL is supposed to be an important tournament for provincial teams since it gives them a chance to compete in a higher level.

“Unlike [teams in] the UAAP and NCAA, who look at their mother league as the most important league of the calendar year, as a provincial team, what we look forward to especially after winning the Cesafi is to compete in the PCCL and compete against the top teams in Manila. Then we can truly gauge how we are as a team and how we can compete against the top caliber teams in Manila.”

When informed of the situation, PCCL executive director Joe Lipa, said that if UV won’t join, they would push on with the tournament without the Green Lancers or a replacement team for that matter.