M. Lhuillier enters BAP pact for love of game

Desire to help the country’s cause in the coming Southeast Asian Games prompted Michel Lhuillier to enter into a pact with the Basketball Association of the Philippines to train the RP men’s training pool.

" He did it for the love of the game. It’s just so happened that they (the BAP leaders) talked to Mr. Lhuillier, and being a long-time patron of basketball, Mr. Lhuillier just couldn’t say no especially if it’s for a national cause," said Cebu councilor Raul ‘ Yayoy’ Alcoseba, a long time basketball confidant of the Cebu-based Lhuillier.

Alcoseba said there’s no money involved in the BAP-Lhuillier agreement for the firm to bankroll the campaign of the team to the 23rd Southeast Asian Games — should the FIBA lift its suspension on the Philippines and continue to recognize the BAP as its country affiliate.

Despite the suspension, the FIBA maintains it still considers the BAP as the recognized basketball body in the country although the Philippine Basketball Federation Inc. which is supported by the Philippine Olympic Committee has a pending appeal with the FIBA for its recognition.

Alcoseba, however, said Lhuillier is not concerned with whom the FIBA would eventually recognize.

"We don’t care who’s affiliated with this group. we have also friends in the PBF and all we wanted to do is help Philippine basketball," said Alcoseba, a renowned Cebuano mentor.

"Sa amin ang mahalaga mayroong training pool na existing para kung ma-lift ang suspension, ready tayo to play in the SEA Games," said Alcoseba, also coach of the San Jose-Recoletos team, featuring Jojo Lastimosa, Dondon Ampalayo, Zaldy Realubit and Peter Jao among others, which ruled the 1985 national inter-collegiate championship.

With the disbandment of the Cebuana Lhuillier training team of Michel Lhuillier’s nephew Jean Henri, a new training pool was formed composed mainly of players of the ML Kwarta Padala team which Alcoseba also handles. — Nelson Beltran