Literally speaking

Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) presidential claimant Quinteliano (Tiny) Literal is in Zamboanga City attending to a personal matter. Graham Lim, the Secretary-General of Literal’s BAP faction, is in Shanghai where the 21st Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC) tournament is being held. He’s probably lobbying for ABC support to lift the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) suspension on the BAP.

The other day, Literal said his 10-man Executive Board will decide whether or not to support Philippine Long Distance Tel. Co. Chairman Manuel Pangilinan’s proposal to create a five-man steering committee as an interim step to resolve the BAP’s leadership crisis. When I called Literal yesterday on his land line for the decision, he had already left for Zamboanga and his cellphone was disengaged. My suspicion is the decision will be left hanging until Lim returns from Shanghai where he’s sure to confer with ABC President Carl Men Ky Ching of Hong Kong on how to pressure FIBA into lifting the BAP suspension.

Literal and the other BAP presidential claimant Gonzalo (Lito) Puyat are at loggerheads. The word is if they don’t agree to participate in the steering committee by the end of this month, Pangilinan will back off from trying to settle the impasse.

The Philippines was barred from participating in any FIBA-sanctioned international tournament, such as the ABC Championships and the coming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, because of the leadership row in the BAP. The suspension also stripped the BAP of its right to vote at the FIBA World Congress.

The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) sanctioned the BAP election that voted Puyat as president last June 7. But the Literal group obtained a court order that authorized another BAP election last June 20. Under the court’s supervision, Literal was elected BAP president. When informed of the court order, FIBA Secretary-General Borislav Stankovic of Yugoslavia said it was "a clear violation" of the governing body’s By-Laws (Article 6) stipulating the recognition of a sole authority in a national affiliate.

Stankovic said the BAP’s suspension will be lifted only if FIBA receives "a written, conciliatory document clearly defining the reorganization of one national federation of the Philippines and nominating the officials in charge, duly signed by all conflicting parties and accepted by the POC as the highest sports authority in the country" or if "all conflicting parties agree in writing to submit to and have their dispute decided definitely by a FIBA panel acting as an arbitration panel, in accordance with FIBA regulations governing appeals."

Curiously, Literal and Puyat used to be allies. In 1968, Literal supported Puyat’s first bid for the BAP presidency. He was BAP Regional Director for Region 10 for five years then for Region 9 for 20 years before becoming Vice President for Mindanao in 1998. Puyat ruled as BAP president from 1968 to 1995 when he was kicked upstairs as Chairman.

Literal, an Ateneo Hall of Famer, played on the Blue Eagle NCAA title teams of 1953-54 and 1954-55 with the likes of Rusty Cacho, Pacquing Rabat, Nes Mayoralgo, Mario Ballesteros, and Pocholo Gayoso. He was on coach Lauro Mumar’s 1957 Philippine selection that played in a Taipei invitational tournament. Literal also saw action for San Miguel Corp. in the amateur commercial leagues.

Literal’s son Roy played for Adamson in the university ranks. Five of his six children now reside abroad. Only Literal’s youngest son John Paul, a 23-year-old occupational therapist, lives here.

Former BAP Secretary-General Mauricio (Moying) Martelino, speaking in Puyat’s behalf, said Pangilinan should be allowed a free hand to run the BAP and appealed to the rivaling groups to set aside their personal interests.

Martelino said he will agree to a BAP election after the SEA Games only if the National Board reflects a legitimate representation of the country’s basketball leagues.

"We should all be willing to sacrifice," said Martelino. "We should all get out. Let Mr. Pangilinan choose his own people. Let him appoint those whom he believes will help him. He has no selfish interest, no hidden agenda. He has proven management expertise, he has the resources, he’s a basketball fan. The BAP needs to turn a new leaf – it needs a new image. Puyat will step down. If we’re willing to back off, why can’t the other group do it, too?"

If the Literal and Puyat groups fail to reach an agreement, Pangilinan will abandon his plan to save the BAP. Then, it’s back to square one.