Elizalde advises BAP ‘to face reality’

International Olympic Committee (IOC) representative to the Philippines Frank Elizalde urged yesterday the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) to give up its fight for recognition and join forces with other stakeholders under Pilipinas Basketball, the new umbrella organization that is expected to be welcomed as a National Sports Association (NSA) by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) General Assembly next week.

"The BAP should face reality," said Elizalde.

"Nothing personal but I think the BAP is a spent force. It brings too much baggage, too many negatives to the table to be recognized as the principal body for basketball in the Philippines. There is no future in the BAP and the major stakeholders don’t want to deal with it."

Besides, Elizalde said the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the POC and FIBA (International Basketball Federation) specified the approach of forming a new organization as a condition to lifting the country’s suspension.

"We can’t go against the memorandum which requires a new organization to be formed," continued Elizalde. "The umbrella can’t be the BAP which is an expelled NSA. Why not just join forces? There’s a place for groups within the BAP in Pilipinas Basketball."

Elizalde said there’s no stopping the BAP if it wants to seek redress from the Council of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) in Lausanne. But he called on the BAP to desist from pursuing the case before the CAS because it would only prolong the suspension at the country’s expense.

The CAS is an independent arbitrator for cases usually involving athletes appealing a suspension that is related to drug use or a rule violation or a technical matter.

Elizalde said he’s in no position to confirm or deny the speculation that the CAS will not arbitrate a case of an NSA protesting its expulsion on the grounds of arrogating jurisdiction from a National Olympic Committee (NOC).

Elizalde said according to POC basketball task force head Mark Joseph, a case may be accepted for arbitration by the CAS after only 21 days from the incidence of dispute. If that is accurate, the BAP has lost the right to appeal its POC expulsion, which was ratified last June.

Elizalde said the approach of seeking FIBA’s opinion on the validity of the proposed Pilipinas Basketball constitution and by-laws before formally applying for affiliation is a step in the right direction.

Due to a prior commitment, Elizalde won’t be able to attend the Seoul meetings next week when POC president Jose Cojuangco, Jr., vice president Rep. Monico Puentevella, secretary-general Steve Hontiveros and legal counsel Egmidio Tanjuatco are conferring with IOC president Jacques Rogge and FIBA secretary-general Patrick Baumann.

The IOC executive board is meeting key officials of the various international federations whose sports are in the Summer Olympic calendar in Seoul. Officials of NOCs all over the world are also convening in the Korean capital for a summit.

Baumann, now in Melbourne for the Commonwealth Games, will meet Cojuangco and the POC officials on April 3. Representatives of the major basketball stakeholders will fly to Seoul for the meeting.

"I don’t think we want to overwhelm or pressure Mr. Baumann but in case he wants to talk to our basketball people, the opportunity will be there," said Elizalde. "He knows my position. I’ve criticized what the BAP is doing vehemently. I think the BAP’s track record is terrible."

Elizalde pointed out that the PBA’s alignment with Pilipinas Basketball is a major plus.

"The major stakeholders behind Pilipinas Basketball are not beholden to the old gang," he said. "They’re the big players like the PBA. In the past, the PBA was wishy-washy but now it’s 100 percent behind the new organization and that will influence FIBA, which is obsessed with involving the pro league in the umbrella group, not necessarily to run it. "

The PBA will be represented in Seoul by chairman Ely Capacio, vice-chairman Ricky Vargas and commissioner Noli Eala. Philippine Basketball League commissioner Chino Trinidad, Jun-Jun Capistrano of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines and Bernie Atienza of the National Collegiate Athletic Association will also attend the meeting.

"Based on the conditions of the memorandum of understanding, we’re taking the right path," said Elizalde. "My hope is the BAP will realize the futility of its efforts to survive and join the major stakeholders in rallying behind Pilipinas Basketball to finally put an end to our FIBA suspension."