Literal: I’m duly elected BAP chief

Tiny Literal, who claims to be the duly-elected president of the Basketball Association of the Philippines, yesterday dared Freddie Jalasco, the leader of the other BAP faction, to go to court if the latter continues to question the legality of his election last Jan. 17 in Angeles City, Pampanga.

During the PSA Sports Forum at the Holiday Inn Hotel, Literal also urged the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission to recognize him as the rightful BAP president since he already has the "full support" of Asian Basketball Confederation president Karl Min Ki Ching of Hong Kong.

"If he continues to question the legality of my election, he can always go to court. And Mr. Jalasco must be man enough to accept reality and that is he is no longer the BAP president. As for the POC and the PSC, they must recognize me as the BAP president whether they like it or not," Literal said.

Literal cited a "verbal agreement" between him and the ABC president recognizing him as the new BAP president and that in two days, he can produce the papers to cement his claim. Literal added that the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the world’s highest governing basketball body, is behind him.

A BAP insider, however, questioned Literal’s claim that he has the support of the ABC and FIBA since the POC, under president Celso Dayrit, still recognizes Jalasco as the BAP president. "It’s impossible for the ABC and FIBA to support him if he is not yet recognized by the POC, " the source said.

But Literal, who has been with the BAP since 1968, stressed "it is the duty of the PSC to give money to the NSAs. And in this case, we are the real BAP. Pera ang magiging problema but we have our own supporters so we can run our program kahit na walang tulong sa PSC."

Jalasco became BAP president in 1995 and was re-elected to a four-year term early last year. His Rift with long-time secretary-general Graham Lim led to the ongoing leadership dispute, with the members of the national board holding an election of their own and installing Literal as president.

Jalasco said Literal’s election was illegal since under the BAP constitution and by-laws, only the president or the secretary-general can call for a meeting. "Right from the very start, illegal ang meetings nila, considering that Graham Lim had earlier resigned from the BAP when these meetings, and election, took place," said Jalasco.

With most of the members of the national board now under Literal’s wings, Jalasco, together with chairman Gonzalo "Lito" Puyat, formed a new BAP alliance that includes PBA commissioner Jun Bernardino as Sec-Gen, MBA commissioner Ogie Narvasa as executive vice president and PBL commissioner Chino Trinidad as board member.

Under the new alliance, Literal kept his post as vice president for Mindanao although he "was not informed about it."

Literal said the formation of the BAP alliance could be the answer to the country’s ailing basketball program but said the leaders of the other basketball organizations like the PBA, MBA and PBL should have consulted with him and his BAP group "since Mr. Jalasco is no longer the BAP president."