No less than International Basketball Federation (FIBA) president Bob Elphinston has reminded the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) that it is no longer authorized to invite national federations or club teams of other countries to participate in any international tournament in the Philippines.
Elphinston rebuffed BAP secretary general Graham Lim for writing a letter, detailing information about the National City League Invitational Championship the BAP is staging April 20-26 in Manila.
“I am surprised that you are writing on behalf of BAP. This is no longer a recognized body because as you well know the recognized federation in the Philippines is BAP-SBP,” said Elphinston in a letter to Graham dated Feb. 1.
The BAP-SBP and FIBA secretary general Patrick Baumann were furnished a copy of the letter.
“FIBA expects that all basketball organizations in the Philippines now fully respect and support the newly structured BAP-SBP, and it is this federation, approved by FIBA, that should be issuing invitations to national federations/clubs of other countries to participate in any international tournament in the Philippines,” Elphinston added.
Elphinston also informed Lim that “FIBA is pleased with the progress being made by the newly created federation and the desire of most people within the Philippine basketball family to unite and work together to rebuild the international recognition of the Philippine as a major basketball nation.”
Lim earlier informed the FIBA president that the BAP in coordination with the League of Cities of the Philippines is staging the National City League Invitational Championship featuring teams from Moscow, Belgrade, Seoul, Riyadh, Sydney, Colorado Spring, Fujian and Istanbul.
But Elphinston reminded Lim the BAP should cease operation and instead support BAP-SBP as agreed upon by Filipino cage leaders.
The unified body is headed by Manny V. Pangilinan as president with Patrick Gregorio serving as executive director or secretary general.
After only months of hibernation, the BAP came back to life, electing former Congressman Prospero Pichay as president.
They have set their own calendar of activities, including the National Students Championship.
Apparently, Pichay, also the president of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines, is positioning himself to run for the BAP-SBP presidency.