Caretaker body takes over BAP

The Philippine Olympic Committee General Assembly, acting on a motion by POC president Jose "Peping" Cojuangco, yesterday unanimously approved the indefinite suspension of the the Basketball Association of the Philippines.

At the same time, the POC approved the creation of a "caretaker" group composed of the POC, the Philippine Basketball Association, the Philippine Basketball League, the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the University Athletic Association of the Philippines to run the affairs of basketball in the country.

"Based on the motion duly filed by the POC president and that being no objections were made, the BAP is suspended indefinitely by all the members (of the POC)," said POC chairman Roberto Aventajado of taekwondo, who presided over the meeting that lasted about three hours.

All 37 national sports associations (NSAs) that attended the meeting at the residence of the POC chief at Dasmariñas Village in Makati City approved his recommendation. International Olympic Committee representative to the country Frank Elizalde also gave his nod.

The 38 votes were more than enough to suspend BAP, or exactly 12 more than what was needed–which is 2/3 of the voting members or 26 NSAs. Incidentally, the same number is more than the required votes to expel a member–which is 3/4 or 30 NSAs.

Boxing, headed by Manny Lopez, didn’t send a representative as it is currently holding the National Youth and Women’s Amateur Boxing Championships in Palawan. The troubled BAP, represented by its executive vice president Christian Tan, wasn’t allowed to vote since it is the subject of the suspension.

Tan didn’t make any comment on the decision and instead said "we’ll just concentrate on the Asia Champions Cup."

However, Tan and the BAP could no longer be allowed to handle and organize the tournament since the POC is expected to send official word to the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) headed by Carl Menky Ching about the BAP’s suspension.

"I’ve heard the PBA is handling it," said Cojuangco, who added that all correspondence to BAP with regard to the Asia Champions Cup will have to go through the POC instead.

"He (Ching) told me that as long as we comply with our local laws, rules and regulations, no international body could interfere and I will follow what Ching told me," said Cojuangco, who personally met with the FIBA official in Hong Kong last Monday.

"The POC also approved a follow-up resolution which has something to do with its ability to meet its international commitments," added Aventajado.

The suspension meant that BAP can no longer function as a regular POC member and will no longer be the association in charge of the formation of the national basketball team participating in international competitions like the Southeast Asian Games, the SEABA, the Asian Games and the ABC.

But Cojuangco clarified that the caretaker group, which will meet tomorrow, will only take care of the training, coaching and the selection of members of the national basketball squad mentored by Chot Reyes.

However, Cojuangco didn’t say who is going to chair the group although he added: "He could be somebody from the outside."

Expected to attend Friday’s meeting are PBA commissioner Noli Eala, PBL chief Chino Trinidad, NCAA’s Fr. Vic Calvo of Letran College and UAAP’s Jun Jun Capistrano of Ateneo.

Topping the agenda is the FIBA Asia Champions Cup slated May 29-June 5 at the Araneta Coliseum and Cuneta Astrodome while the formation of the team for the SEABA tournament next month in Singapore will likely to be tackled too.

Consequently, the BAP will no longer receive any financial support or any form of assistance from the Philippine Sports Commission.

"We’re still awaiting official word from the POC before the board can discuss and act on the matter," said PSC acting executive director Guillermo Iroy.

Trinidad, for his part, said "with the issue out of the way, it’s time to build a truly national program that involves the major stakeholders of basketball."

There are, however, repercussions like a possible legal action from the BAP or suspension from the FIBA.

"A FIBA concurrence will be sought. We will face the music when the time arises, if ever it will," Aventajado commented.