BAP to push plan to host Asia Cup

Despite the threat of suspension from the Philippine Olympic Committee, the Basketball Association of the Philippine stressed yesterday it is the duly authorized body to organize the 16th FIBA-Asia Champions Cup slated May 29-June 5 at the Araneta Coliseum and Cuneta Astrodome.

"This is a FIBA-Asia and BAP affair, not a POC affair," said BAP counsel Boni Alentajan in a press conference attended by fellow officials Graham Lim, Christian Tan and Filomeno "Boy" Codiñera at the Orchids Garden. Coaches Boyzie Zamar and Johnny Tam were also there.

The announcement came on the heels of a recommendation by the POC executive board headed by Jose "Peping" Cojuangco for an indefinite suspension of BAP. The suspension will take effect once the General Assembly stamps its approval next week.

For the suspension to take effect, Cojuangco would need two-thirds vote of the 38 members in the assembly, or 26 NSAs. Cojuangco already has 20 since the board which recommended the suspension is composed of that number, needing only six additional to suspend BAP.

But Tan, BAP’s executive vice president, said everything is ready with nine countries including the Chot Reyes-mentored RP squad slugging it out for the crown.

"Despite the controversies, we’re pushing through with this commitment to host this big event. There is so much at stake here that we should work together for the success of the event because I believe that we’re doing this for flag and country," said Tan.

Tan said the Nationals are bracketed in Group A with defending champion Sagesse club of Lebanon, Tobol of Kazakhstan, India and Iran, which recently sent its juniors team in a pair of exhibition games with the RP pool.

Syria, Al Rayyan of Qatar, a Kuwait club, and Fastlink Jordan comprise Group B.

BAP, however, may not be around that long since the General Assembly is set on the last Wednesday of the month, or on May 26 to be exact.

There, Cojuangco’s group is expected to muster the needed votes to suspend the troubled association.

"We’ll try to get the opinion of FIBA-Asia with regards to these matters. But as of now, we’ll go through with the hosting as instructed," Tan said.

The PBA, which has already signed a memorandum of agreement with the BAP leading to the World Championship in 2007 and the Olympics in Beijing, China in 2008, did not make any comment if it would allow their players to play in the event should the BAP suspension be approved. — Joey Villar