BAP moving on its own

The Basketball Association of the Philippines is alive, well, and flying under the radar. As the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas continues to draft a development program for the sport and prepare teams for international competition, the BAP - which was supposed to have merged with the SBP - is still moving. And Graham Lim is alive, well, active and wielding his independent clout in the game.

BAP organized the just-concluded Harbour Centre – 1st National Basketball Challenge of Champions from November 3 to 13, 2007 at the San Andres Gym in Manila. The tournament received support from Manila Mayor Fred Lim through the Manila Sports Council (MASCO) and the Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines (FESSAP). FESSAP chair, Rep. Prospero Pichay and FESSAP president Tisha Abundo attended the finals.

Twelve teams joined the competition. Las Piñas College of the Colleges and Universities Sports Association (CUSA) won the first championship, defeating Asian Colleges of Science and Technology (ACSAT). Emilio Aguinaldo College overcame San Sebastian College of Cavite to claim third place. Las Piñas College qualifies for the Asian University Basketball Federation (AUBF) tournament in China in June.

BAP sec-gen Lim also serves in the same capacity in the AUBF, with legendary Korean hotshot Shin Dong Pa as president. Honorary chairman is former FIBA president, Dr. Carl Men Ky Ching, The BAP will next stage the 62nd National Students Basketball Championship in Pangasinan in February.

Lim said the tournament is just the highlight of a very active year for the BAP, which continues to act on its own, organizing tournaments and bringing together different basketball organizations.

“We are still working, as we have always done,” Lim sniffed, before commenting on what he alleges is a concerted effort to discredit him. “People are saying things against me, but I continue to work for basketball, and we have had very successful events this year.”

To illustrate his point, Lim enumerated the BAP’s accomplishments for the year. He cited the Philippine- Korean Friendship Games in February; the 61st National Students Championship, the National City League Championship (organized with the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP), and the FESSAP National Tournament called Philippine Universiade.

Lim says none of these projects would have become reality, without his connections with important political and business personalities who pitch in to help finance and lend logistical support to his projects.

“It’s good that we still have friends who are willing to help basketball, especially when we ask for their help in organizing events,” Lim added.

Since the Unity Congress last February, Lim practically dropped under the radar of local basketball. SBP has had a few high-profile projects, including a coaching clinic and seminar with Serbian coach Vlade Djurovic, the recruitment of Fil-Am Vicki Brick for the Philippine women’s team, and coordination of training center’s and workshops for basketball stakeholders all over the country.

But for years, Lim has been putting together  basketball tournaments that second- and third-tier schools and organizations have been joining. Whether or not the events are widely recognized, the fact remains that he is still working parallel to the SBP, which is slowly gathering momentum as it prepares teams for the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand next month.

Surprisingly, it illustrates that there are still some stakeholders in basketball (albeit of a lower profile) who are allied to the BAP, and have not fully bought into the touted unification of the community. It also means the SBP still has some work to do in penetrating all the way down to the smaller leagues. This can eventually become a divisive scenario.