Peping back to tackle BAP row

Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose "Peping" Cojuangco will be back in the limelight today once he arrives from a four-week stay in the United States.

The controversy surrounding Philippine basketball will be the first thing on hand for the 70-year-old POC chief who is expected to preside over a crucial meeting among POC officials this evening.

Whether or not the POC would push through with its plans to expel the Basketball Association of the Philippines will be tackled in the meeting.

Once the green light is flashed, the POC General Assembly will vote on it tomorrow at the Milky Way Restaurant in Makati. A two-thirds vote or 30 of 39 votes will be needed to expel the BAP.

Joey Lina, the newly-elected BAP president, yesterday reiterated his appeal to the POC to welcome the BAP back to its fold as he vowed to pursue changes that will correct whatever mistakes the association had committed in the past.

"What we are asking the POC is to give the BAP a second chance," said Lina during the PSA Forum, reiterating an appeal he made last Friday for the POC to lift the suspension it imposed on the BAP more than a month ago.

"We are still hoping and praying that the POC will welcome us back. After all, the BAP has been around since 1936. Give us a second chance, especially now that we have addressed the concerns," added the former senator and local government secretary.

The POC suspended the BAP, then under Tiny Literal, mainly for its failure to honor a commitment made with the country’s major stakeholders in basketball regarding the formation of the RP team to two international tournaments this year — the SEABA in August and the SEA Games in November.

While under suspension, the BAP underwent a facelift, electing Lina to replace Literal and adding some new faces like Air 21 president Lito Alvarez as deputy secretary-general and former POC chief Cristy Jalasco as director. Moves have also been taken to make the BAP more efficient in performing its duties.

"Again, we have addressed these concerns," said Lina, keeping his fingers crossed that the POC freezes its plan to formally expel the BAP from its roster.

If and when the BAP is expelled, to take its place is the Basketball Federation of Philippines, Inc. which scheduled an election last Thursday but, for one reason or another, called it off at the very last minute.

Lina said as of presstime, letters are being sent to the voting NSAs (national sports associations), explaining and enumerating to each one of them the ongoing changes within the BAP.

"I’ve talked to some of them. But formally, letters are now being distributed reporting to them, and updating them (on the changes)," said Lina.