POC awaits Laos nod for hoops

It’s a certainty that basketball will be included in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games calendar in Laos next year but POC official Go Teng Kok said yesterday he’ll only rest easy when the organizing committee, led by deputy prime minister Somsavat Lengsavad, confirms it in writing.

Go said he is now awaiting word from the committee to fly to Laos anytime this week and meet with other country representatives before finalizing the schedule.

“There is an agreement in principle that basketball will be included in the schedule,” said Go. “The deadline to finalize the events was last Dec. 8 or a year before the start of the next SEA Games. We came to an agreement a week before the deadline. Mr. Lengsavad is now in China so we are waiting for his availability to meet.”

Since April, three meetings were held in protracted negotiations to firm up the SEA Games events. The initial count was 22 sports but archery, cycling, basketball and wrestling were later added to bring up the total to 26 broken down into 388 medal events.

SBP executive director Noli Eala drafted a multi-party memorandum of agreement, which Go sent to Lengsavad three weeks ago to confirm basketball’s inclusion. Go said he foresees no problem in sealing the deal with the signing of the memorandum.

The memorandum stipulates the responsibilities of the Laos Basketball Federation, the Basketball Association of Thailand, SBP and FIBA-Asia in organizing the competition.

“FIBA-Asia will supervise the tournament with Thailand and Laos underwriting the expenses,” said Eala. “Thailand and the SBP will conduct clinics for the Laotian national team. And the SBP will hold seminars for referees and table officials, providing technical support through the POC. Basketball is considered a developmental sport in Laos and the SBP will do its share in charting a course for its future.”

Lobbying for basketball was Go’s assignment from POC president Jose Cojuangco Jr., and it was an uphill battle starting the first committee meeting last April.

“In the beginning, the organizing committee ruled out basketball because there was no venue,” said Go. “So I proposed for the Philippines to bring over the wooden floor which would cost about P3 Million.”

In the second meeting last August, Go continued to press for basketball but couldn’t get a clear nod from the group of 11 nations.

Finally, in October, Go committed for the Philippines to donate the hardcourt with Thailand sharing in the expenses to run the tournament. But before the committee could act on the proposal, Go said he was surprised to find out a multi-purpose stadium was under construction in Laos with the Chinese builders confirming suitability for basketball, volleyball and badminton. The arena will be finished before the coming SEA Games.

Go found out the Chinese government pledged a $79 Million budget for the stadium in exchange for 1,000 hectares of prime Laotian property where a Chinatown will rise.

Go said Philippine ambassador Elizabeth Buensuceso joined in the lobby effort to convince Lengsavad to include basketball in the SEA Games calendar.

“Ambassador Buensuceso went out of her way to help us even if she was already preparing to leave for her next posting in Norway,” continued Go. “She met with Mr. Lengsavad, who is her personal friend, and made the appeal for basketball. Mr. Lengsavad assured her of his support on condition the inclusion would not violate the SEA Games charter.”

Under the SEA Games charter, the approval for a sport to be included in the calendar must be confirmed a year before the first day of competition.

Go mentioned that FIBA-Asia secretary-general Dato Yeoh Choo Hock of Malaysia was requested by FIBA-Asia board member Suthep Banjobhoki of Thailand to supervise the tournament.

Basketball was not played in the SEA Games when the Philippines hosted in 2005 because of the FIBA suspension. But in 14 of the 15 SEA Games where basketball was scheduled, the Philippines won the gold medal with only Malaysia preventing a sweep in 1989.