Stakeholders bewail Lina’s position in BAP-PB row

The representatives of four of the five stakeholders tasked by a Memorandum of Understanding entered into by the international basketball federation (FIBA) and the Philippine Olympic Committee decided to break their silence following recent attacks in the media by Joey Lina, president of the expelled Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP).

The representatives of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), Philippine Basketball League (PBL), National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) lamented Lina’s tactics and positions, which they said might delay and ultimately derail the country’s re-entry into the sport’s international arena.

"It is not true that we never listened to Joey Lina’s concerns and suggestions," said PBA commissioner Noli Eala." It’s just that the more the move back towards the BAP was being considered, the less it made sense given the extremely negative baggage the group has had the past several years."

"Besides, putting up a new and truly representative NSA for basketball was what the MOU called for, so we merely followed its dictates to the letter," added Eala.

"The sooner the new constitution and by-laws pass with the FIBA, we shall be inviting other leagues to join us as we forge ahead with Pilipinas Basketball," said PBL commissioner Chino Trinidad, spokesman of the group. "The goal of the new NSA is to become a truly democratic and working body with one goal in mind — to enable the country to regain its lofty international standing in the sport we all love."

Junjun Capistrano of the UAAP admitted that they did consider forming everything under a re-constituted BAP, but this was merely discussed as one of the options but it was "not the only path we were committed to undertake."