BAP avers it’s still legitimate cage body

As long as it continues to enjoy the support of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) wouldn’t blink in its battle for turf with the Basketball Association of the Philippines Inc. (BAPI).

In a three-pronged stand they presented in yesterday’s PSA Forum at the Manila Pavilion, BAP officials claimed they are the duly recognized national governing body for the sport by both FIBA and the Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC), something which BAPI, unfortunately, doesn’t have.

"National sports associations (NSAs) exist because of the recognition bestowed upon them by their respective international federations," stressed BAP executive vice-president Christian Tan in the public sports program sponsored by Red Bull, Agfa Colors and Pagcor. "The BAP is not the BAPI."

Also during the same forum, assistant coach Dong Vergeire officially announced the lineup of the men’s basketball team for the Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam.

Named to the squad were Celino Cruz, Dennis Madrid, Paul Artadi, James Yap, Willie Wilson, Richard Melencio, Gary David, Rich Alvarez, Ranidel de Ocampo, Irvin Sotto, Ricky Calimag, Mark Pingris, Wesley Gonzales and Allan Salansang, the last two as alternates.

A recent Court of Appeals ruling it promulgated as final and executory declared BAPI under Nic Jorge as the rightful cage body in the country on the basis of its incorparation with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), as per government order requiring all NSAs to acquire legal personality for it to receive financial assistance from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

But Tan, accompanied by BAP secretary-general Graham Lim and BAP technical chairman Boy Codinera, insisted that such court ruling is tantamount to government intervention, with which NSAs, or even the Philippine Olympic Committee for that matter (POC), should not subscribe themselves.

The BAP official cited that several times in the past, the POC did not allow itself to be controlled by the government or any of its agencies, including the courts of law.

"Proof of this was its decision to ignore the results of the Manila Regional Trial Court-supervised BAP elections in 2001," Tan pointed out. "The BAP that now exists (under Tiny Literal) is the result of a later election that year where the ABC, FIBA and POC were duly notified and invited."

Also as an indication that the PSC itself continues to recognize the BAP, Tan said the government sports agency still gives them financial assistance, even financing the current China trip of the women’s team as part of its preparation for the SEA Games.

"The PSC recognizes any national sports association affiliated with the POC ˆ in this case the BAP," said Tan, adding PSC executive director Edgardo Mateo told them that PSC chairman Eric Buhain has no intention of withdrawing financial support and evicting BAP from its current office at the Rizal Memorial Complex.

"In this regard, the BAP decided that it will no longer pay attention to any effort by the BAPI to sow confusion on the legality of the BAP to oversee the development and promotion of amateur basketball in the country," Tan said.

The BAP had already sent communication to the FIBA and ABC regarding the issue, according to Lim, who is always in contact with FIBA president Carl Menky Ching.

Codinera for his part feared that the current imbroglio may again lead to the country’s suspension in all international tournaments sanctioned by FIBA as was the case in 2001.