SEAG caging still possible, says BAP

Despite expulsion from the Philippine Olympic Committee, the Basketball Association of the Philippines said it is doing everything possible to ensure the staging of basketball competitions in the 23rd Southeast Asian Games in Manila.

"We’re working on it. It’s hard to say now how we’ll save the situation but we have to stage basketball in the SEA Games. Otherwise it will be a big embarrassment," said BAP secretary-general Graham Lim in Filipino.

Lim said the RP team under coach Boyzie Zamar is continuously working out despite the uncertainties in Philippine basketball.

Cebuano billionaire businessman-sports patron Michelle Lhuillier has promised to bankroll the team and, at the same time, reinforced it with players from his ML Kwarta Padala squad under coach Yayoy Alcoseba. Richard Melencio, Randy Alcantara, Ercito Victolero and Chris Cantonjos are among players under Zamar.

PBA veteran Jerry Codiñera is also practicing with the team.

Alcoseba said they could host a tournament among Southeast Asian teams in Cebu in December should the basketball event is scrapped from the SEA. — Nelson Beltran