BAP can’t delay SBP congress, says Eala

PBA commissioner Noli Eala likened the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas to "a runaway train" which can no longer be untracked now by dilatory moves of opposing parties.

"This is FIBA’s call. They have provided us the roadmap. They told us to comply with the Tokyo accord and we’re complying," said Eala.

The PBA commissioner, who also serves as SBP spokesman, made the statement yesterday in light of the new development at the Basketball Association of the Philippines, electing Go Teng Kok as its new president.

"By all means, Mr. Go is most welcome to join the three-man panel. But the BAP has to inform the panel if it’s replacing Sen. Jinggoy Estrada with Mr. Go just like they did when they replaced Sen. Joey Lina," said Eala.

"However, I would like to caution any move by BAP to make the change delay the congress. That will no longer be allowed," said Eala. "They now have to make the adjustment, not the three-man panel."

Eala stressed the Unity Congress would push through with or without the BAP, confident the 12 Pilipinas Basketball nominees and neutral member Manny Pangilinan would constitute a quorum in the 25-man interim SBP board.

An essential point of the joint communiqué reached by the BAP and PB in Tokyo last August, is that the Unity Congress, set Feb. 5, is to affirm nomination of interim officers in a unified basketball body.

Upon the completion of the unified body, it would apply for accreditation with the Philippine Olympic Committee then with the FIBA to hopefully pave the way for the country’s return to international play.

A big question, however, is the BAP’s next move following election of new officers, including Cong. Luis Villafuerte as chairman and Cong. Douglas Cagas as vice chair.

A reliable source said Go and other BAP top officials Graham Lim, Christian Tan and Atty. Boni Alentajan are now seeking a meeting with Pangilinan.

Pangilinan, apparently, wants to first see the ground rules of the meeting.

"I think the only thing that should be discussed now is who will replace Sen. Estrada in the three-man panel. Kung ide-delay nila, hindi na pwede," said an SBP prime mover.

On Villafuerte’s plan to talk to POC president Jose Cojuangco for BAP’s reinstatement in the POC, Eala said: "That’s his position.. BAP reinstatement is a past issue. It’s history. The fate of Philippine basketball now lies with the Tokyo Accord." — Nelson Beltran