Puyat questions PSC’s presence in peace talk

Fearing it might spark another controversy on government intervention, Lito Puyat yesterday said Philippine Sports Commission chairman Carlos Tuason’s presence in his conciliatory meeting with Tiny Literal is unnecessary and asked the PSC chief be barred from the talks.

Puyat even threatened to snub the meeting set Monday that many hope will finally pave the way for the reconciliation between the two warring factions in the Basketball Association of the Philippines, a rift that led to the suspension of the body in FIBA-organized events.

"It should be a strictly POC affair. No other agency should be involved particularly the PSC, which is obviously a government agency," said Puyat referring to the scheduled meeting with Philippine Olympic Committee president Celso Dayrit.

"The PSC’s attendance in the Literal-Puyat meeting will not be necessary. What is important is the presence of both Puyat and Literal," said Dayrit.

However, there were reports that both Puyat and Literal, although they agreed to talk, will keep their hardline stance of declaring themselves as the legitimate local cage body.

"We are recognized by the POC and therefore, we should be recognized by the FIBA," said Puyat, who was elected as BAP head on June 7.

Literal, on the other hand, said there’s nothing wrong if Tuason attends the meeting. "He encouraged me to sit down and talk with Mr. Puyat so he should be present to witness the event."

"They (Puyat’s group) do not have the numbers, we have. I’m just surprised why the POC is clinging on to them," said Literal, who was elected as head of the other BAP group in a separate election on June 20.

The FIBA, the world governing cage body, placed the BAP under indefinite suspension until its leadership dispute, which has been going on for the last six months, is finally settled.

Borislav Stankovic, the FIBA secretary-general from Yugoslavia, has written the BAP, the POC and the Asian Basketball Confederation saying that the BAP, due to the suspension, cannot take part in any official international competition of the FIBA, including regional games like the SEA Games or the Asian Games.

In his letter, Stankovic said the FIBA has taken note of the latest developments in the BAP. "According to the reports we received, two separate groups of officials have now been elected on June 7 as requested by the POC, and on June 20 as requested by a court intervention, allowing "de facto" for two national federations in the Philippines," he said.