Baylon-Lim 'secret' meeting alarms board

MANILA, Philippines - The PBA board of governors will hold a special meeting today to discuss the consequences of the alleged secret meeting of JB Baylon, team manager of the Powerade Team Pilipinas, and controversial BAP official Graham Lim Wednesday night on the current basketball issue.

The pro league is a major trustee in the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas which is at odds with the discredited BAP where Lim is a leading figure.

SBP officials wondered why Baylon, a PBA board member, had met with Lim Wednesday night when, a few hours earlier, PBA board chair Joaqui Trillo denounced the BAP for its alleged role in the FIBA special commission’s inquiry which SBP feared may lead to another suspension of the country by the international federation.

Baylon admitted meeting with Lim but said it had nothing to do with the SBP-BAP conflict.

“I have no illusion to talk for SBP. I’m only after the Coke investment (with the national team). I want to know what they’re (BAP) up to. I’m afraid our investment would go down the drain, I would be answerable to my bosses at Coke,” Baylon told The STAR.

“Yes, I sought him out because I want to know what the situation is. But I told him my point that the public will not tolerate them (if the Philippines is suspended by Fiba),” Baylon added.

The Coca-Cola executive stressed he’s with the PBA in its stand in Philippine basketball leadership issue.

“They’re making it a cloak-and-dagger stuff,” said Baylon reacting to a text message by SBP executive director Noli Eala, saying they have a picture to prove his meeting with Lim at Cafe Adriatico.

“I don’t think I have to tell the world about this meeting. We met at Cafe Adriatico because I had an earlier meeting there with US embassy officials,” Baylon also said.

Trillo was with SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan and other SBP trustees in a press briefing Wednesday morning where they deplored Fiba’s move as an “intrusion in the affairs of a national federation.” – Nelson Beltran