Cage leagues scoff at BAP demands

MANILA, Philippines - The basketball community yesterday expressed dismay over the five demands submitted by the BAP to the SBP a week before a FIBA special commission summons officials of both organizations in an attempt to broker a truce in a series of “conciliatory” meetings on July 20-22 in Geneva.

Neither the SBP nor the BAP could confirm their attendance in Geneva but it likely the rivalling bodies will be represented when FIBA secretary-general emeritus Borislav Stankovic, former FIBA president Dr. Carl Men Ky Ching and FIBA legal counsel Ken Madsen call the meeting to order at the Hotel Movenpick.

The SBP is recognized by both the POC and FIBA as the country’s NSA for basketball, succeeding the BAP. But even as the SBP has made significant strides in bringing Philippine basketball back on track after a two-year suspension, the BAP continues to bombard FIBA with reports of alleged disunity in a propaganda campaign.

FIBA secretary-general Patrick Baumann, reacting to the BAP’s persistent use of the internet to smear the SBP’s reputation, recently formed a special commission made up of Stankovic, Ching and Madsen to get to the bottom of the problem. The move was in direct contradiction to Baumann’s previous decision disregarding any communication with the BAP and took the SBP by surprise.

Expected to represent the BAP in Geneva are president Prospero Pichay, executive vice president Christian Tan, Tisha Abundo and lawyer Boni Alentajan. Secretary-general Graham Lim, facing deportation proceedings, may also show up.

Invited to attend for the SBP are chairman Gov. Oscar Moreno, president Manny V. Pangilinan, vice chairman Ricky Vargas, executive director Noli Eala and legal counsel Marievic Anonuevo. POC chairman Rep. Monico Puentevella is reportedly prepared to fly to Geneva and testify before the special commission regarding the proceedings in the SBP elections, which were certified by the POC.

In what was considered an act of audacity, the BAP sent a list of five demands to the SBP, insisting that if they are agreed on, it wouldn’t be necessary to proceed to Geneva.

The five demands - the SBP chairman should be a BAP nominee, the SBP executive director should be jointly chosen by the SBP and the BAP, the country’s basketball grassroots program will be managed by the BAP, the country’s elite program (involving the formation of the national team) will be managed by the SBP and the SBP Board will be composed of 12 nominees from the SBP and 12 nominees from the BAP.

At its inception, the SBP was known as BAP-SBP but the name could not be used because another group identified with the BAP had it registered with the SEC. The NSA eventually dropped the reference to the BAP and became the SBP. Also, at its inception, the Board was split 12-12 among nominees of the SBP and BAP with the chairman a BAP nominee.

But in the SBP National Congress last year, the legitimate voters of the NSA elected a new Board and a new set of officers. The BAP attempted to convene its own National Congress a week before but it could only muster six active voting members. The courts later affirmed the SBP National Congress as the lawful and rightful forum and upheld the election of the Board and officers.

With the affirmation from the POC and the courts, the SBP moved forward in implementing serious programs to develop the sport in the country, including a program for referees, coaches, youth and grassroots, elite players and membership expansion.

To recognize the BAP officials as duly elected trustees and officers of the SBP would be contrary to the standing judicial pronouncement of the Philippine courts.

The SBP counts on the support of the country’s major basketball leagues, including the PBA, PBL, Liga Pilipinas, UAAP, NCAA, NAASCU and CESAFI. The BAP has no meaningful support from any league.

The basketball community was up in arms when news of the BAP’s demands spread.

“By what authority does the BAP make demands?” wondered an official from a major league. “It is a discredited organization so why does FIBA even listen to its baseless accusations? Why give life to an organization that is better off dead than alive. The BAP only looks out for itself not the good of Philippine basketball. If the BAP has no constituency, then it has no right to be represented in the SBP Board - that’s the rule and nobody is above the law.”