POC snubs BAP election

Philippine Olympic Committee president Celso Dayrit yesterday provided the latest twist in the Basketball Association of the Philippines conflict when he announced that the POC has withdrawn its participation in today’s BAP election to be supervised by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) at the Century Park Hotel.

Only last Friday, when the 502-strong RP delegation to next week’s Kuala Lumpur SEA Games met with President Arroyo in Malacañang, Dayrit said the POC has no other choice but to recognize the winner of today’s election between Gonzalo "Lito" Puyat and Quintellano "Tiny" Literal at 3 p.m.

Dayrit, however, made a turnaround yesterday as he reaffirmed the POC’s recognition of the Puyat faction, a move which, sources said, had the blessings of the POC executive council. Dayrit added that International Olympic Committee director for NOC (National Olympic Committee) affairs Pere Miro is no longer coming for today’s exercise.

"The IOC and POC will no longer participate in the meeting (tomorrow) and Pere Miro is no longer coming," said Dayrit.

With the IOC and the POC out of the picture, today’s election will still have the blessings of the FIBA, which placed the BAP under suspension last June 22, and the Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC). Patrick Baumann, the FIBA Sec-Gen, and his ABC counterpart Yeoh Choo Hock were expected to plane in last night along with ABC president Carl Ching Menky.

Dayrit said the recent Court of Appeals decision declaring Puyat as the legitimate BAP head and citing the POC’s autonomy in solving disputes involving local sports should be enough ground for the FIBA to call off today’s election and lift the BAP suspension. This will pave the way for the country’s participation in the basketball competitions in Kuala Lumpur.

President Arroyo, asked to comment on the issue, last Friday said the parties concerned should follow the court decision. "Let’s just follow whatever the court says. What’s important is that we send a team to the SEA Games because it’s a possible gold medal winner," said the President.

"We maintain that the FIBA does not have further reason to continue the suspension of the BAP considering that the basis of the suspension no longer exists because of the Court of Appeals ruling. We urge the FIBA to lift the suspension so our (basketball) athletes will be able to play in the SEA Games," said Dayrit.

The FIBA suspension was based on two grounds – that there are two de facto associations performing the same duties, and that the leadership dispute that actually started last December had reached the courts.