Three steps SBP must go thru to gain FIBA nod

The way is clear for the Federation Internationale de Basketball (FIBA) to lift the Philippines’ suspension and only three steps remain to be taken before the country is finally able to resume playing in international competitions, a highly-placed source said the other day.

The steps are related to the formation of a unified body as stipulated in the Tokyo communiqué signed by representatives of Pilipinas Basketball (PB) and the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) in front of FIBA and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) officials last August.

The Tokyo accord called for the creation of a unified body–the Samahang Basketbol Ng Pilipinas (SBP)–from the merger of PB and the BAP.

The steps are to lay the groundwork for the formation of the Philippine team made up of the country’s best players, convene a unity congress to formalize the election of SBP officers and obtain recognition as a National Sports Association (NSA) from the POC.

Once the steps are taken, the three-man panel empowered by the Tokyo accord to oversee the unification process will be dissolved and the elected SBP officers will formally apply for the SBP’s FIBA recognition at the FIBA Central Board meeting on March 2-3 in Thailand.

In a primer issued by the SBP, it is required for the organization to create a five-man committee composed of two representatives from the commercial sector and three from the school-based sector to form, prepare and enter the men’s and women’s national teams for international competitions.

As defined by the SBP, the commercial sector is comprised of leagues or associations actively involved in or promoting and conducting basketball programs and competitions primarily for product advertising purposes. The school-based sector is composed of leagues or associations actively involved in or promoting and conducting basketball programs and competitions in schools or inter-schools whether elementary, high school or tertiary levels.

The unity congress is scheduled on Feb. 5 at the Dusit Nikko Hotel in Makati. The appointed interim 25-man SBP Board of Trustees will elect the corporate officers–the chairman, vice-chairman, president, executive director, secretary and treasurer–at the congress. The interim trustees will serve until the election of the first regular Board to synchronize with the Olympic calendar of 2008-2012.

A validation of the SBP members will be undertaken by the Nominations and Membership Committee. The three-man panel composed of Philippine Long Distance Tel. Co. (PLDT) chairman Manny Pangilinan, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and Jun-Jun Capistrano will set the ground rules for the unity congress.

An SBP delegation made up of Pangilinan, Estrada, Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) chairman Ricky Vargas, PBA commissioner Noli Eala and PLDT Global president Al Panlilio flew to Geneva last week to brief FIBA officials on the progress of the unification process.

Upon the delegation’s return, Eala reported that FIBA was satisfied with the progress report of the three-man panel on the unification efforts and is standing by the Tokyo communiqué.

"FIBA is supporting the final implementation of the terms of the Tokyo accord to the extent practicable," said Eala. "FIBA is also encouraging the SBP to pursue the staging of the unity congress as a very critical step in backing up the application for FIBA recognition."

POC president Jose Cojuangco, Jr. has been briefed by Pangilinan on the Geneva talks. The POC General Assembly will be convened for a special meeting to take up the SBP’s application for NSA status after the unity congress.

During the Geneva talks, FIBA president Bob Elphinston of Australia was quoted as saying that the unification is the best thing for Philippine basketball and he’ll support the move to lift the suspension once the three key steps are taken.

FIBA secretary-general Patrick Baumann also expressed support for the unification process under the terms of the Tokyo agreement.