Moying to meet FIBA chief today

Philippine Basketball Federation Inc. (PBFI) president Mauricio "Moying" Martelino leaves for Hong Kong today to meet international basketball federation (FIBA) president Carl Ching Menky in an effort to solve the crisis in the sport back home.

Martelino flies to the former British Crown Colony this morning with fellow PBFI incorporator Joey Romasanta, bringing with them pertinent documents that could help facilitate their bid for recognition as the country affiliate of the FIBA.

Menky, meanwhile, is reportedly coming in after a conference in China.

Martelino couldn’t give an official statement yesterday as he was busy working for a passport renewal at the Department of Foreign Affairs.

But he has expressed confidence they would get favorable response from the FIBA as they formally sought recognition from the world basketball body through a letter Thursday.

Martelino has also said he’ll go to the FIBA office if FIBA wants him to.

The Philippine Olympic Committee recognized PBFI as the official basketball body in the country after stripping the Basketball Association of the Philippines of that recognition.

However, the FIBA suspended the Philippines from all FIBA-sanctioned tournaments in the aftermath of the POC-BAP dispute.

Martelino is hoping to gain FIBA’s recognition soon, for one, to salvage whatever is left for the Philippines in international basketball calendar this year, most specially the Southeast Asian Games the country is hosting from Nov. 27 to Dec. 5.