POC backs Jalasco in SEA

The Philippine Olympic Committee, going by its commitment to support Basketball Association of the Philippines president Freddie Jalasco at all costs, has writtern the national Olympic committees in Southeast Asia to inform them that Jalasco, not his rival Quintellano "Tiny" Literal, is the rightful president of the beleaguered association.

The POC sent the letter to all basketball associations which are members of the SEABA, which of late has also been in the dark as to the status of the forthcoming SEABA tournament since Jalasco said he is going to cancel it while Literal confirmed his group will stage it.

"We did that (write to NOCs) after the POC executive board decided the other day to write the NOCs of the SEABA member countries," said Jalasco. "The POC also sent the same message to the International Basketball Federation. The POC also made that move because the other group has been trying to put the POC power in question. These NOCs must have received the letters by now."

Jalasco, also the SEABA president, declared two weeks ago that the country would not host the SEABA tournament next month due to lack of funds, prompting Literal’s group to take over the hosting of the multi-nation event through private sponsors who are willing to bankroll the P4 million event.

Jalasco said last Tuesday he is now trying to raise the fund just in time for the tournament.

"Now that the POC has written that letter, I’m sure the NOCs of the other countries will tell their respective basketball associations not to join the SEABA tournament being prepared by Literal’s group because they will be courting diplomatic problems. The letter coming from the POC, and not from Jalasco who is the SEABA president, is to give it more weight," said a POC insider.

Reacting to reports that the SEABA member countries have been communicating with Literal’s group instead of Jalasco’s, the same source said: "It’s because Literal’s group could be sending out invitations without saying that they are not the group being recognized by the POC. They could be sending the invitations using the letterhead of the BAP."

Jalasco said this is the reason why he talked to Philippine Sports Commission chair Carlos "Butch" Tuason yesterday since it is Literal’s group that has been occupying the BAP office at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex ever since the leadership dispute within the association broke out last December.

"Them occupying that office has been creating problems for us because most of the communications are being made from there. From the fax machine to the telephones and BAP letterheads, Literal’s group are trying to use them as a leverage," said Jalasco. "Chairman Tuason told me that he is only waiting for the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel to give him the go signal to issue an eviction order against Literal’s group."