Literal: ‘RP cagers to play in SEA Games’

Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) presidential claimant Quintilliano (Tiny) Literal yesterday guaranteed that the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) suspension on the BAP will be lifted to pave the way for the national team to play at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur this September.

It was big talk from a man called Tiny.

Literal, 67, said the BAP’s allies in the Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC) are working feverishly to persuade FIBA Secretary-General Borislav Stankovic of Yugoslavia to retract the suspension.

"I assure you 100 percent we will send a team to K. L.," said a confident Literal. "Inaayos na ng ABC. Ang sabi ng ABC, hindi pwedeng hindi tayo magpadala ng team. Besides, walang karapatan ang FIBA to suspend the BAP."

The suspension order came last June 22, two days after the ABC sent its legal counsel to observe an election here where Literal won as president. The election, however, was not sanctioned by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).

Literal said the July 15 deadline for countries to submit their list of athletes for the SEA Games will likely be extended to accommodate the basketball team. He added that if the team isn’t formed by July 15, ABC President Carl Ching Men-Ky of Hong Kong and Secretary-General Yeoh Choo Hock of Malaysia will extend the deadline to either Aug. 15 or 20.

Literal disclosed that Ching and Yeoh are threatening to pull out the ABC from FIBA if the suspension is not lifted. He cited a precedent where in a zonal dispute, the European faction seceded from FIBA and formed its own federation known as Europe

FIBA. Literal said Ching and Yeoh felt the ABC should’ve been consulted before FIBA slapped the suspension.

Literal told The STAR he asked Laguna Lakers team owner Bert Lina the other day to get the same Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) cast that recently won the Southeast Asian Games Basketball Association (SEABA) title, ready for the SEA Games.

"The national team made up of MBA stars is intact under coach Boysie Zamar," said Literal. "If some MBA teams refuse to lend their players, Bert assured me that the Lakers will represent the country in Kuala Lumpur and if necessary, he will reinforce the team with other players."

Literal, who has been a BAP official since 1968 when Lito Puyat assumed the presidency, said the ABC will not take sitting down FIBA’s snub of its zonal authority.

A source said FIBA sent out a notice of the BAP’s suspension to its 15-man Central Board for comments within 48 hours before firming up the order. Ching, Yeoh, and a representative from China questioned the suspension, insisting the FIBA must obtain prior ABC approval. Three other members wondered why the FIBA was in a hurry to suspend the BAP. The other nine didn’t bother to respond. — Joaquin Henson