Elizalde advises SBP to heed FIBA

MANILA, Philippines - The country’s International Olympic Committee (IOC) senior member Frank Elizalde encouraged yesterday the SBP to attend the meeting called by the FIBA special commission in Geneva on July 20-22 and while he saw no grounds for another Philippine suspension, warned that ignoring the invitation could lead to serious repercussions.

Elizalde, 76, has been an IOC member since 1985 and is chairman of the IOC Nominations Commission. A former Harvard University varsity swimmer, he was recently named a member of the IOC Ethics Commission. Elizalde is a member of the POC Executive Board.

“I sympathize with the SBP and I agree that being called to attend the special commission meeting without knowing why is unfair but I don’t think it’s right to ignore FIBA,” said Elizalde. “It’s never a good policy to go against an IF (International Federation) like FIBA which governs the sport of basketball all over the world. If you ignore FIBA, believe me, the decision will come back to haunt you later.”

Elizalde said he is aware of the issues involving the SBP and rival BAP whose status as an NSA was taken away by the POC for cause and bestowed on the SBP after due process.

“FIBA knows what it’s doing,” said Elizalde. “I’m sure my good friend Patrick (Baumann, FIBA secretary-general) knows what’s going on. At the moment, I don’t think there are grounds to even consider suspending the Philippines. But if the SBP doesn’t show up in Geneva, I can just imagine what FIBA’s reaction will be. It won’t be positive.”

The Philippines has been suspended thrice by FIBA – all on politically related issues. In 1963, the country was suspended for failing to host the World Championships after the government refused to issue visas to the Yugoslavian team on the basis of its anti-Communist policy. In 2001, another suspension was slapped due to a leadership crisis within the BAP, then the NSA for basketball, pitting Tiny Literal and Graham Lim versus Freddie Jalasco and Lito Puyat. In 2005-07, the Philippines was suspended when the POC stripped the BAP of its NSA status for failure of leadership.

The suspensions caused the Philippines to miss playing basketball in the 2006 Asian Games and the 2001 and 2005 FIBA-Asia Championships.

Elizalde said he recently spoke to Baumann during an IOC meeting in Lausanne and told him to beware of politicians stoking the fires of chaos in sports.

“Patrick had actually phoned me when I was in Manila before we met in Lausanne,” said Elizalde. “He was concerned about the compliance of the terms in the Bangkok Agreement which was supposed to bring about peace and unity in Philippine basketball. I wrote Patrick a letter, expressing my concerns about the FIBA special commission - which he later told me was strongly worded. But he asked for my opinion and I gave it. I told Patrick he shouldn’t be giving importance to people from a discredited organization.”

Elizalde said if the SBP is confident of its position, there should be no problem attending the special commission meeting.

“It would’ve been better to set the meeting in Manila so the special commission members (FIBA secretary-general emeritus Borislav Stankovic, FIBA honorary president Dr. Carl Men Ky Ching of Hong Kong and FIBA legal commission member Ken Madsen) can see for themselves what the situation is,” said Elizalde. “They can see what leagues are attached to the SBP and what leagues are attached to the BAP. They can interview basketball people in the course of their investigation. But the decision is to hold the meeting in Geneva. Maybe, it’s because FIBA already knows what the situation is and all they want is a reassurance that the terms of the Bangkok Agreement are complied with.”

Elizalde said he doubts if the special commission has the power to suspend the Philippines.

“I think the special commission was tasked to look into the problem and is recommendatory in nature,” he went on. “It will probably recommend a course of action for FIBA to approve.”

Elizalde said he disagreed with the SBP’s approach of putting out full-page ads in newspapers to publicize its side.

“I realize the SBP is on the right but I’m afraid some people in FIBA might interpret coming out with full-page ads as an act of arrogance,” he continued. “A phone call to Patrick would’ve clarified things, I think. It’s always good to establish informal relations.”

Elizalde also said there is concern in FIBA about the emergence of an Asian professional league, similar to the NBA, that is independent of FIBA. Malaysian businessman Tony Fernandes, founder of Air-Asia, is spearheading the effort to create the league which has the support of FIBA-Asia secretary-general Dato Yeoh Choo Hock.