FIBA reaffirms support to SBP

The Federation Internationale de Basketball Amateur (FIBA), the world’s governing body of the sport, has reaffirmed its all-out support to the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) under the leadership of Manny V. Pangilinan.

In a letter to Pangilinan dated May 13, 2008, FIBA secretary-general Patrick Baumann said that in their most recent meeting, the FIBA Central Board decided to re-confirm its support to the National Basketball Federation BAP-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (BAP-SBP) as member of FIBA and to the duly elected leadership in line with the position of the Philippine Olympic Committee.

“In reponse to the arising issues and the various correspondences that we have received, I would like to inform you of FIBA full support to the BAP-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and to you, its President, and to the Board of Trustees,” stated Baumann in his correspondence to Pangilinan.

Baumann also relayed to Pangilinan several other matters decided by the Central Board particularly to disregard any communication coming from the former organization BAP as it has no rights with FIBA.

Also, the Central Board advised the SBP to avoid entering into international political debates typical for an electoral year, but to continuously support the federation in its efforts to comply with the approved by-laws of BAP-SBP.

“As a consequence, we agree that it is up to the satutorily constituted nomination and membership committee of BAP-SBP to validate the members after the transition period caused by the merger, based on the validation rules properly approved in the meantime,” said Baumann.

In addition, the FIBA has dismissed Graham Lim with immediate effect from his membership to the Youth Commission of FIBA, citing that Lim’s continuous actions to disrupt the proper functioning of BAP-SBP using the BAP umbrella are unacceptable.

“These discredit basketball and are incompatible with a position within the FIBA family,” said Baumann, adding that they have already asked FIBA Asia to review together with BAP-SBP the appropriateness of Lim’s participation in any body of FIBA Asia.

Baumann wished Pangilinan much success in all his endeavors for the good of Philippine basketball.