MVP fed up with intrigues in SBP-BAP

Businessman-sportsman Manny V. Pangilinan said he’d be willing to give up the BAP-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas presidency if he could leave it in good hands.

Pangilinan expressed reservations in running for re-election, saying: “I don’t need this job, I don’t want this headache.”

The PLDT chief is not prevailing upon Patrick Gregorio to stay on as executive director as he himself is tired of the antics of politicians trying to meddle in the sport. Gregorio has tendered his resignation effective May 31.

“If you ask me, I want to go. My concern is if we all go and then they (the politicians) take over, what will happen to Philippine basketball? I want to leave it in good hands,” Pangilinan told The STAR.

“I don’t need this job. If I could leave it to somebody who could carry on, I would just be there to support,” Pangilinan added.

Without naming names, Pangilinan said he had been besieged by issues raised by  certain politicians whose aim is to rock the boat and put him and the SBP-BAP leadership on the spot well in advance of next month’s election.

“These politicians don’t watch basketball. Have you seen them watch collegiate basketball, PBA or PBL? They know nothing about basketball,” said Pangilinan in Filipino.

Frustrated at the rate things are going in Philippine basketball, Pangilinan said he might as well not run in the SBP election of officers set May 31.

“Hinding-hindi nila tatantanan ito. Unang-una dalawang letters na ang ipinadala sa akin, including a charge accusing me of stealing money. Why will I do that? Ako na ang gumagasta ako pa ang binabatikos,” said Pangilinan.

“Their position is that there’s no agreement to dissolve the BAP and Pilipinas Basketball but the Tokyo communiqué was very clear. The articles were signed by everybody, what are they talking about?” said Pangilinan.

The SBP president is surprised Villafuerte, who’s not present in the Tokyo and Bangkok meetings, is making a new stand for the BAP.

Pangilinan is hoping more cage associations qualify as voting members of the SBP so that he can’t be accused of rigging the screening process.

“Only 15 have qualified but deadline for submission of documents as proofs has been extended to April 15. Hopefully, more will qualify in the next few days. Their (BAP) position is that all of their 66 memberships become members. I don’t want to be charged that I rigged the membership so that I could get elected,” said Pangilinan.

Granted active and voting membership status last April 4 were UAAP, NCAA, NCAA-South, PBA, PBL, CESAFI, NAASCU, SBPI, NCRAA, WNCAA, COSAA, El Federacion Basketbolista de Zamboanga, Baguio-Benguet Educational Athletic League, Pinoy Basketball Inc. and Cagayan de Oro Basketball Federation.

Validation of the members’ list is in fulfillment of the mandate given to the three-man panel formed pursuant to the Tokyo communiqué agreed upon by both the BAP and PB and witnessed by FIBA.

Active members must be sports associations that actively conduct regular basketball tournaments for at least two consecutive years. The duration of the tournament is at least three months with at least six ball clubs participating per tournament. Active members have voting rights.

Associate membership is open to sports associations that conduct programs in or allied with basketball as a competitive sport but do not qualify for regular membership.