Court sheriffs enforce ban on use of ‘illegal BAP’

Court sheriffs yesterday enforced a ban on the use of "Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP)," which the Court of Appeals said could no longer be used by any group other than the legitimate Basketball Association of the Philippines, Inc. (BAPI).

An official copy of the Court of Appeals resolution was delivered and received by Rose Deato, office secretary of the illegal BAP and Victor Buenaventura, a representative of its referee association, enjoining its officials to refrain from misrepresenting themselves as belonging to the National Sports Association (NSA) for basketball in the country.

Nic Jorge, secretary general of the court-recognized BAPI, called the latest development in his fight to reclaim the association as "a triumph for what is just and right" even as he appealed to both the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) to "respect and follow the decision of the court."

Jorge said outright recognition of the BAPI by the PSC and POC would "help ease tension between the BAPI and the illegal group" even as he reiterated he is looking forward to an "amicable settlement of the issue, for the benefit of the sport we all love."

"If the POC and the PSC would recognize us outright, we will open talks with officials of the illegal BAP and find ways to get them involved once again in formulating policies to put the sport back on trail. All these under the banner of our proposed basketball superbody."

BAPI lawyer Cecil Cinco, however, said that while the association is keeping its doors open towards reconciliation, the BAPI should also seek court action in ensuring its decision would be followed to the letter.

"We will also bar the illegal association from using the office and reiterate our stand with the PSC that the BAP no longer has right to receive assistance in whatever form from the government agency," Cinco said.