Gaston rebuffs Bachmann claim

Philippine Sports commissioner (PSC) Matthew “Fritz” Gaston swears that he has nothing to do with Robert Bachmann’s decision to step down as president of the Philippine Squash Association Inc. (PSA) over his delayed request in the government sports agency.

Gaston, in an interview with DAILY TRIBUNE, asserted that all of his decisions regarding Bachmann’s request for the PSA were done aboveboard. He claimed that it was Olivia “Bong” Coo — the commissioner with oversight on the PSA — who suggested deferring the decision over Bachmann’s request to a later date.

Unfortunately for Bachmann, the matter was never brought up when the board meeting resumed.

Gaston and Bachmann’s younger brother, PSC chairman Richard “Dickie” Bachmann, are not seeing eye to eye.

In fact, Gaston even reached out to Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin to report the PSC chief’s alleged “questionable financial decisions” that sparked an all-out war in the PSC.

With that, Bachmann accused Gaston and his fellow commissioner, Edward Hayco, of playing politics in denying his request for his athletes, who are gearing up for various qualifying tournaments for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.

“When his request came for refund, for financial assistance for his athletes, his clothes, and all of that, I went out to the bathroom. Commissioner Ed (Hayco) told me that they were about to talk about squash and I told him to return to the meeting,” Gaston said.

“Commissioner Ed went back and said ‘let’s take up squash now’ and commissioner Bong said to discuss it at the next board meeting.”

“We had lunch and in the afternoon, it was never mentioned.”

Gaston said he and Bachmann met prior to the board meeting and asked him to rephrase his financial request as a reimbursement request.

“I said ‘first of all, if you take that up as it is, your request is wrong. You’re requesting financial assistance for equipment of athletes. You already bought it,’” Gaston said.

“You should request first.”

In a previous conversation, Bachmann said Gaston admitted to him that he is blocking his request because of his relationship with the PSC chief. With that, he decided to step down as PSA chief to make sure that their program will not be hampered.

“But why is he bringing this up now? My brother has been the PSC chief for two years and we didn’t have any problem with my requests,” said Bachmann, who is preparing to file his administrative case against Gastion and Hayco before the Office of the President.