THE Games and Amusements Board (GAB) has contacted the Philippine Padel Association and directed its officials to ‘stop organizing professional events’ unless they obtain proper documents, licenses, and permits from the government professional sports agency.
GAB letter to PPA President Alena Dawn Magpantay dated November 12, 2014, and signed by GAB Chairman Atty. Francisco Rivera and Commissioners Atty. Manuel Plaza III and Angel Bautista, GAB declared the sports association professional and must submit all necessary documents.
The PPA has three days upon the receipt of the letter to comply.
“As the government agency mandated by law to supervise and regulate professional sports and games in the country, our primary concern is to promote the safety and welfare of all professional athletes and other participants in professional sports. Similarly, the GAB is tasked by law to protect and balance the interests of everyone involved in professional sports and games,” stated the letter.
“Accordingly, the Philippine Padel Association falls squarely under the aforementioned definition, as it pays players sums of money in consideration of their participation and/or performance in the league.”
GAB issued the letter after receiving information that PPA is organizing a foreign-laced tournament with a prize pool of P780,000.
The tournament is not sanctioned by Padel Pilipinas, the local amateur association headed by Senator Pia Cayetano, and duly recognized by both the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
Padel has gained popularity since its formation last year following the gold medal triumph of Marian Capadocia and Tao Yee Tan in the Pro-female category of the Asia Pacific Padel Tour (APPT) Grand Slam in Singapore last Oct. 3-6.
Aside from the most popular boxing and basketball, sports that already secured professional status are volleyball, football, golf, 3x3 basketball, cycling, triathlon, and chess
