BAP to boycott Unity Congress

The Basketball Association of the Philippines, now under the leadership of athletics president Go Teng Kok, has decided to boycott the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Unity Congress on Feb. 5.

Go, who worked so hard for the BAP’s expulsion from the Philippine Olympic Committee two years ago, was elected president of the same association last Saturday.

Go said all he wanted was to promote unity in the troubled basketball community, and have the FIBA suspension on the Philippines lifted.

There are also reports that Go is now planning to have the BAP reinstated by the POC. Two years ago, he had a ton of reasons why the BAP should be expelled.

To attend the Unity Congress are the biggest basketball entities in the country, from the Philippine Basketball Association, Philippine Basketball League, University Athletic Association of the Philippines and National Collegiate Athletic Association.

The SBP said it will push through with the Unity Congress with or without the BAP. In this gathering, the SBP board of trustees, including 12 from the BAP, will elect its set of officers with Manny V. Pangilinan as president.

It appears that Go is against Pangilinan being named SBP president.

"He (Pangilinan) is supposed to be the mediator. Now he is being groomed as the president," said Go.

During yesterday’s PSA Forum, POC president Peping Cojuangco said the BAP being reinstated by the Olympic body is the last thing on his mind.

"Give me one good reason why the BAP should be reinstated. I just can’t understand why they had to go through four presidents in the last 18 months. Why should we give recognition to such association?" he said.