‘Let’s not send cagers to SEAG’

After turning down what could have been the best possible solution to the BAP mess, here comes Quintellano "Tiny" Literal saying that it would be better if the Philippines does not send a basketball team to the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games this September.

Literal, who claims to be the rightful BAP head and not Gonzalo "Lito" Puyat, yesterday said not sending a cage team to the bennial meet where the Philippines is the defending champion will save the country from further embarrassment.

"Mabuti pa huwag na lang magpadala ng basketball team kaysa naman matalo lang tayo at lalong mapahiya," said Literal after joining the national athletes in staging a protest rally in Malacañang.

Literal last Saturday turned down a proposal by Puyat’s group to have businessman Manny Pangilinan named officer-in-charge of the BAP in order to let the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) lift its suspension on the BAP.

That’s why another meeting was scheduled for yesterday. Literal, however, felt no need to attend the meeting, saying: "Ngayong napahiya na tayo sa FIBA at sa international community, bakit pa ako pupunta sa meeting na yan."

The FIBA said it will only lift the suspension if the BAP installs a new head who is acceptable to both parties, or if they agree to submit themselves and let a FIBA panel decide on the issue.

The Kuala Lumpur SEA Games organizing committee has given the participating countries only until Sunday to submit their official lineups. National sports associations who fail to do so cannot send a team to the Games.

"Kung maayos man ang problemang ito, sino naman ang ipapadala natin sa SEA Games? Isang rag-tag team? Eh, deadline na sa July 15 para mag-submit ng official lineups," said Literal.

Another possible solution brought up by Pangilinan last Saturday was the formation of a five-man steering committee to be composed of Pangilinan himself, his appointee, two from Literal’s group and one from the Puyat faction.

This failed to produce results when Literal’s group insisted that another election be held right after the SEA Games. Last month, two elections were already held but both failed to bring Puyat and Literal in one room, leading to two BAPs performing the same functions, and eventually the FIBA suspension.