SBP rightful cage body – Cojuangco

The Philippine Olympic Committee yesterday reiterated its position recognizing the BAP-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, Inc. as the rightful body that should govern the sport in the country.

“There’s no question to that,” said POC president Jose Cojuangco yesterday after witnessing the election of the set of officers of the BAP-SBP at the main ballroom of the Dusit Thani Hotel.

The officers led by business mogul Manny V. Pangilinan as president, Misamis Oriental Gov. Oscar Moreno as chairman and Noli Eala as executive director drew cheers as they were introduced.

Cojuangco said the BAP-SBP is the rightful basketball association in the country, the one recognized by the International  Basketball Federation or FIBA, the POC and the Philippine Sports Commission.

The POC chief said the other group contesting the right to govern basketball in the country, the one led by former Rep. Butch Pichay, does not even have the right to do so.

“The BAP is not recognized by the POC, not recognized by the PSC and in fact, in law, they do not exist. There’s already a resolution from the FIBA central board recognizing the SBP,” he said.

“And it’s not just a letter from (FIBA) secretary-general Patrick Baumann. It is a resolution of the central board. I think that is already final,” Cojuangco said.

Pichay’s group held its own election of officers last June 4 and called the SBP group as the “illegitimate” one. It even tried to stop yesterday’s proceeding through a TRO but failed.

Cojuangco was asked if the POC recognition of the SBP group was automatic.

“Yes,” he said. “They complied with all the rules. They informed us about this, they submitted to us their constitution and by-laws and they asked for a POC observer.

“All the rules governing an election in an NSA were complied with. It’s already a fact that the association being recognized by the POC is the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.”

Pichay said he would bring up the matter, or the dispute before the POC general assembly.

“I don’t know how he can bring it up before the POC general assembly when it’s the SBP being recognized by the POC. So how can he do that?” said Cojuangco.

More than 300 people came to witness the occasion, and they included some of the country’s top sports leaders like Philippine Sports Commission chairman Butch Ramirez and POC vice president Monico Puentevella.

Also present were basketball figures Mikee Romero, Pato Gregorio, Nic Jorge, Fritz Gaston, Jun Sy, Chot Reyes, Junel Baculi, Moying Martelino, members of the men’s and women’s teams and PBA chief Sonny Barrios.

Ramirez left way ahead of the rest but one of his commissioners, Ritchie Garcia, said the association being recognized by the POC is the association being recognized by the PSC, too.   – Abac Cordero