Bad news for basketball fanatics

June 27, 2009 in basketball

Manila Standard Today published these stories.

This is bad news for basketball fanatics for this might lead to another FIBA suspension.

Pichay advises Pangilinan’s group to attend probe

By Edwin Rollon

BASKETBALL Association of the Philippines, the oldest cage body in the country, finally broke its silence.

Yesterday, BAP president Prospero Pichay shed light on the issue surrounding the present cage row and why the country is now under scrutiny of the International Basketball Federation.

“They didn’t follow the Bangkok Agreement. This clear defiance to the agreement in the presence of Fiba is the root of misunderstanding among local basketball leaders. It’s only our right to call the attention of Fiba regarding the failure of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas to unite all stakeholders,” said Pichay during the weekly Scoop sa Kamayan in Padre Faura.

Pichay, a former congressman from Surigao, said that the officers of BAP are batting for unity and prosperity in sports just like everyone else.

“This unity every basketball-loving Filipino would want to achieve would not be attained if the SBP continuously disowns the BAP. Under the agreement in Bangkok, the two cage bodies would merge, thus the organization name will be carried as BAP-SBP.”

Likewise, Pichay branded the threat of the SBP leadership to snub the meeting called by Fiba as an “unsportsmanlike act” and a “statement of arrogance.”

Pichay also squelched accusations by the SBP camp headed by Manuel V. Pangilinan that the Philippines will be suspended again.

The SBP leaders met Wednesday and questioned the creation of the three-man special committee headed by longtime Fiba secretary-general Boris Stankovic and issued a statement that it will not submit themselves to the July 20 to 22 investigation in Geneva. Joining Stankovic in the three-man panel are Fiba honorary president Carl Menky Ching and Fiba legal counsel Ken Madsen.

“Wala namang sinasabi sa imbestigasyon na isu-suspend tayo, ano ang ikatatakot nila?” Pichay asked. “Ang ikatakot nila kung talagang may violation sila sa Bangkok Agreement na siyang pinagbasihan ng recognition ng BAP-SBP as the sole NSA ng basketball dito sa bansa.”

For Pichay, defying the Fiba order would only worsen the situation in local basketball. The basketball executive, who is also the head of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines in the country, also added that the BAP will attend the meeting in Switzerland.

Elizalde: Special commission ridiculous

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

INTERNATIONAL Olympic Committee Philippine representative Frank Elizalde told Fiba secretary-general Patrick Baumann in Los Angeles and Geneva in a meeting recently that the creation of a special commission was ridiculous.

“I told him I was not in agreement with Fiba’s position. I absolutely have no sympathy for the BAP people,” said Elizalde.

The IOC representative suggested that the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas keep it “low key and talk to Fiba officials personally and try to get clarification.”

Elizalde also disclosed that he reminded Baumann of how much BAP secretary-general Graham Lim insulted him when he was removed from the Fiba Youth Commission and called him a “racist,” yet he had him reinstated.

“Baumann could not explain,” said Elizalde.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Basketball Association board of governors met to take up the issue of the reported meeting between Powerade-Philippine team manager JB Baylon and Lim at Café Adriatico, an encounter that drew widespread criticism.

After the board meeting, SBP vice chairman Ricky Vargas, who was angered by Baylon’s actions, said he was happy at the results of the meeting.

Vargas said he thanked PBA chairman Joaqui Trillio and commissioner Sonny Barrios for the PBA’s unequivocal support for the SBP and its leadership, headed by businessman-sportsman Manuel V. Pangilinan.

Vargas said Baylon regretted that he met with Lim after being appraised of the entire situation surrounding Fiba’s decision to create a special commission to look into the question of unity in the Philippine basketball national association.

Vargas, at the same time, revealed that the SBP was banking on the good and decent elements in Fiba to help understand the position of the SBP and how much it had so far done for Philippine basketball.

“I’m confident that in the end, Fiba will not suspend the Philippines,” said Vargas, even as he disclosed that Baylon committed to support the national team all the way to the Fiba Asia Men’s qualifying tournament in China, even if the Philippines is suspended and cannot play.