POC ready to lower the boom on BAP

Jose "Peping" Cojuangco’s leadership at the Philippine Olympic Committee is being put to a test.

Apparently irked by the Basketball Association of the Philippines latest moves, the powerful POC president yesterday gave top officials of the local basketball body 72 hours or three days to explain, in writing why it shouldn’t be meted heavy sanctions.

Cojuangco said the POC can go as far as withdrawing its recognition of the BAP as the national sports association (NSA) for basketball.

If it fails to justify its actions before the POC, the BAP has a couple of options left.

The first is to ask POC chaiman Robert Aventajado to mediate and arbitrate, and the second is to go directly to the International Basketball Federation or FIBA where they can accuse the POC of direct intervention in the BAP’s running of its affairs.

But options, however, will only lead to one thing: a head-on collision with Cojuangco.

In a strongly worded letter to BAP president Tiny Literal, Cojuangco reminded the BAP of its commitment in "extending its full cooperation" to the basketball committee recently formed and chaired by Cojuangco to help the BAP chart the future of Philippine basketball.

The committee, made up of the major stake-holders in basketball, was primarily formed to ensure the country’s success in the SEABA Championship in Singapore on June 20-26 and the 23rd SEA Games to be held here on Nov. 27-Dec. 5.

The BAP was well represented in the two previous meetings of the committee and hardly raised any contention when it was agreed upon that the national team will be composed of players from the PBA, PBL and collegiate leagues like the UAAP and NCAA.

Coach Chot Reyes was also agreed upon to oversee the training and formation of the teams.

Through the media, the BAP suddenly questioned the existence of the committee headed by Cojuangco, insisting that it is an autonomous body and therefore should have the final say on the formation of the RP teams to various international competitions.

The BAP, through embattled secretary-general Graham Lim, who is facing deportation from the Bureau of Immigration, also insisted that Boysie Zamar should keep his position as head coach after being appointed by the BAP board as early as last year.

Literal, however, came up with a press statement last Sunday reaffirming the BAP’s continued support of Cojuangco’s committee. He signed the statement in front of Joey Romasanta, the committee’s secretary-general; Go Teng Kok, a BAP adviser; and Literal’s son, Paul.

But the ailing BAP president suddenly sang a different tune the following day, disowning his previous statement and virtually declaring war against the POC-led basketball committee.

The BAP board signed a resolution to this effect and at the same time sacked Go, the flamboyant athletics and chess president, as BAP adviser and as chairman of the country’s bid to host the 2007 Asian Basketball Championship.

"It therefore comes to us as a surprise that, as stated in the news reports, the BAP is reneging on this commitment. May we seek your written explanation on the matter within three days…otherwise we shall be constrained to initiate sanction on the BAP.

"Such as but not limited to the withdrawal of recognition of the BAP as the NSA (national sports association) for basketball," said the POC letter to the BAP.

"I think it’s insecurity more than anything else. Maybe they (BAP officials) feel that their positions and their association are being threatened. But that’s not the way to preserve them. They have more to lose than gain with this. And all they had to do was coast along," said Romasanta.

"I guess Tiny Literal was subjected to tremendous pressure to issue a different statement. And under his present health condition, pressures like these will be the last things you’ll need. He could have come out good on this. He even told us he wanted to resign upon the advice of his family. And if he’ll do that, ayusin muna niya itong association niya. Then he can fade away," Romasanta added.