Incoming FIBA prexy urges RP to unite

Incoming Federation Internationale de Basketball (FIBA) president Bob Elphinston of Australia said recently the world body isn’t the same without the Philippines, languishing under suspension, and urged the country’s sports leaders to put an end to their squabbling.

Elphinston, 64, will formally assume the FIBA presidency and succeed Carl Ching Men-Ky of Hong Kong in the next Congress in August. He attended the second of two meetings with FIBA secretary-general Patrick Baumann and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) officials to discuss how to lift the country’s suspension during a private session at the Grand Intercontinental Hotel in Seoul last Tuesday.

"It’s all up to the Philippines how and when to end the suspension," said Elphinston. "The sports leaders have to come together for the sake of the sport and millions of Filipinos who love the game. The meetings in Seoul were a step in the right direction. I’m very encouraged by what transpired."

Aside from the POC officials, Elphinston was introduced to representatives of four major cage stakeholders, namely, Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) chairman Ely Capacio, vice chairman Ricky Vargas and commissioner Noli Eala, Philippine Basketball League (PBL) commissioner Chino Trinidad, University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Board of Trustees member Jose Capistrano and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) vice chairman Paul Supan.

"I’m hoping the Philippine delegation will go back home reinvigorated and ready to find a solution to the problem," said Elphinston. "It was a welcome opportunity for us to listen to the stakeholders and learn where they’re coming from. I know how much Filipinos love basketball. I was in Manila during the World Championships in 1978 and I saw the passion."

Elphinston, a founding director of Australia’s National Basketball League (NBL), said he’s aware of the quality level of competition in the PBA. He mentioned he is a Sydney Kings fan and knew the club played an exhibition series with the Philippine team last year.

Elphinston said unless the Filipino cage stakeholders unite, it will be difficult for FIBA to lift the country’s suspension and accredit Pilipinas Basketball as the new country affiliate endorsed by the POC. While the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) is recognized by FIBA as country affiliate, its expulsion by the POC is a disabling factor.

Baumann said all it will take for FIBA to lift the suspension is BAP president Joey Lina’s signature signifying his support for Pilipinas Basketball. That would make it unnecessary for FIBA to expel the BAP in order to accredit Pilipinas Basketball.

Elphinston said the primary goal in his four-year term as FIBA president is to coordinate the activities of a strong, centralized, governing body for the entire world. FIBA was organized in 1932 and now consists of 211 member federations with an estimated base of 400 million players. Its functions are to establish rules, specifications for equipment and facilities and executive regulations in relation to all international and Olympic competitions, to control and govern the appointment of international referees, to regulate the transfer of players from one country to another and to control and govern all international competitions.

The acronym FIBA is derived from the French "Federation Internationale de Basketball Amateur." The word "amateur" was dropped in 1989 after the distinction between amateurs and professionals was eliminated. The "A" in FIBA, however, remained for tradition and because "BA" are the first two letters in "basketball."

"I’m excited that the first FIBA tournament in my term is the World Championships in Japan where a record 24 countries are playing," said Elphinston. "My emphasis as president will be to develop more youth and grassroots programs particularly in the 10 to 12 year-old levels."

Elphinston said he was particularly gratified that basketball was finally in the calendar of the Commonwealth Games held recently in Melbourne.

"Australia won both the men’s and women’s titles over New Zealand but what thrilled me most was the participation of small countries like Malta, Mozambique and Scotland," said Elphinston. "There were lots of pro scouts who flew in to watch the games. Unfortunately, the top stars of several countries were in the US and unable to play. Australia, for instance, missed Andrew Bogut. I’m hoping basketball will remain in the next Commonwealth Games calendar in New Delhi."

A former physical education teacher, Elphinston has been involved in basketball for 45 years. He was the Australian team manager at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. In 1991, he was appointed general manager of the Sydney Olympics 2000 Bid Company and his work was rewarded two years later when the city won the right to host the Games.

Because of his work as the Sydney Olympic Games Organizing Committee general manager, Elphinston was awarded the Order of Australia medal in 2002. He has served as secretary-general of the Australian Olympic Committee and is president of Oceania Basketball.

Elphinston was recently appointed as Sports Advisor for this year’s Doha Asian Games and Sports Consultant of the 2008 Beijing Olympics organizing committee. He is the first foreign expert drafted by the Chinese hosts to assist in preparing for the Olympics.

"I am delighted to have the opportunity to start to actively assist Beijing as Sports Advisor in the next 35 months," said Elphinston. "This exciting opportunity will only strengthen my volunteer contribution to FIBA."