Assured of funds, BAP to stage SEABA

Assured of support from the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee, Basketball Association of the Philippines president Freddie Jalasco announced yesterday the country’s hosting of the fourth Southeast Asian Basketball Association Men’s Championship, which was earlier postponed due to internal problems and lack of funds.

Jalasco said the event is set from April 2-9 at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City. He also bared that his group has sent a note to SEABA secretary-general, Datu Yeoh Choo Hock informing him of BAP’s withdrawal of its earlier letter regarding BAP’s inability to stage the event.

This came about even as the POC wrote the secretary generals of the nine-member countries of the SEA Game Federation in connection with another group taking over (the BAP) "in violation of their charter," said POC secretary-general Romeo Ribaño.

"The POC, in its desire to honor the provisions of the charter of the different member associations, has taken the position of recognizing the incumbent officers of the BAP under Mr. Jalasco, who is also the current president of the SEABA," said Ribaño in the letter.

The other BAP faction led by Quintillano "Tiny" Literal, has claimed it would stage the event on the same day Jalasco’s group will hold the annual meet.

Literal’s group said they have received confirmation of participation from six member countries - Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam, for the coming cagefest.

Although the group still has no venue to hold the event, Literal said they have been assured of financial backing after controversial Ilocos Sur Governor Luis "Chavit" Singson agreed to be the event’s project director. —Joey Villar