Puyat, Jalasco remain at BAP helm

PAGSANJAN, Laguna -- Freddie Jalasco Jr. and Gonzalo (Lito) Puyat II were given a fresh mandate by their peers Monday to run Philippine basketball for the next four years in an election held at the Pagsanjan Rapids Hotel here.

Thirteen of the 14 regional directors of the Basketball Association of the Philippines -- lone absentee was Region VIII's Lucrecio Calo -- rendered the election a shoo-in when Region I's Luis Samson and Region III's Antonio Angeles took turns nominating Puyat then Jalasco for the same posts they were elected to in 1995, and in like manner: by acclamation.

On hand to witness the occasion was Secretary General Romeo Ribano of the Philippine Olympic Committee.

Jalasco reappointed key officials to respective positions: Jaime Dichaves, the Philippine National Basketball Academy president, as vice president for Luzon; House Majority Floor Leader Eduardo Gullas as vice president for the Visayas; and former MICAA cage star Quinteliano (Tiny) Literal as vice president for Mindanao. Graham Lim stays as secretary general.