Hoops pushed for Laos SEA Games

JAKARTA – SEABA president Erick Thohir of Indonesia said yesterday the lobby to include basketball in the Laos Southeast Asian (SEA) Games late this year is strong and he hopes the clamor will convince organizers to add the sport in the calendar.

Thohir, 37, is an influential business leader in the SEA region. He presides over Republika, the largest Muslim newspaper in Indonesia, at least two TV networks and a large coal mining company. His family is reputedly among the top 10 richest in the country with interests in mining, media, real estate and banking.

SBP executive director Noli Eala contacted Thohir from Manila by phone and arranged an interview with The STAR here.

“Of course, it’s important to SEABA for basketball to be played in the SEA Games,” said Thohir. “We are asking each member country of SEABA to obtain an endorsement from its National Olympic Committee and submit a written appeal to the Laos government for the inclusion of basketball.”

Thohir said he is not giving up hope.

“What is surprising is I was recently told by the secretary-general of the Laos association that basketball is now the second most popular sport next to soccer,” said Thohir. “It makes even more sense for basketball to be included in the SEA Games. I find it difficult to imagine a SEA Games without basketball.”

Thohir said once the letters of appeal are received, he will personally fly to Laos and in behalf of SEABA, confer with organizers in a last ditch attempt to include basketball.

“Hopefully, we’ll get it done,” said Thohir. “It’s still possible.”

Eala said the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and the SBP are joining the SEABA lobby for basketball. POC president Jose Cojuangco Jr. has designated special assistant Go Teng Kok to spearhead the Philippines’ own lobby. Former Philippine Ambassador to Laos Antonio Cabangon-Chua is supporting the effort.

Meanwhile, Thohir confirmed that Jakarta will host the FIBA-Asia Champions Cup on May 12-20. However, the SEABA qualifying tournament is not yet set with Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Manila expected to bid for the hosting rights.

The FIBA-Asia Champions Cup will convene 10 teams with host Indonesia guaranteed a slot. The SEABA champion will earn a ticket as the other entry from the region. Lebanon, Qatar and Iran will represent West Asia. One country will come from East Asia where China, Taiwan, Korea and Japan are situated. Kazakhstan, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates and Jordan will complete the cast.

Thohir proudly pointed out that Indonesia won the last SEABA Champions Cup.

Two imports are allowed for each team in the Champions Cup. But it’s not certain if the Philippines will bring in reinforcements unless Serbian coach Rajko Toroman decides to try out Golden State Warriors veteran Chris Taft who is applying for naturalization. 

Taft’s agent Bill McCandless has agreed to send the 6-10 forward to Manila for a “trial” period but Eala said the SBP is still studying its options.

For the SEABA Champions Cup, the Philippines will be represented by Toroman’s national developmental squad whose mainstays include Chris Tiu, Dylan Ababou, Rico Maierhofer, J. V. Casio, Greg Slaughter, J. R. Cawaling, Mark Barroca, R. J. Jazul, Rey Guevarra, Jason Ballesteros, Magi Sison and Mac Baracael.

Thohir said he recently met SBP chairman Manny V. Pangilinan during the PBA game between Talk ‘N’ Text and San Miguel Beer in Singapore.

“I have the highest respect for the SBP,” said Thohir. “I met Noli when he was still the PBA commissioner. Through his efforts, we brought Talk ‘N’ Text and Ginebra to play in Jakarta. Noli was also instrumental in bringing Filipino pros to play in Indonesia. The PBA was the model we used in organizing our own league.”

Thohir said the global financial crisis has led to cutbacks in sports budgets.

“We used to employ Filipino players,” he said. “Now, we only have Filipino coaches - Boysie Zamar in Medan and Bong Ramos in Surabaya. Even in F1, budgets are being slashed from $300 million to as low as $50 million.”