FIBA to decide RP's fate today

MANILA, Philippines - With the BAP a no-show on the first day of deliberations, the FIBA special commission went on to confer with the SBP on compliance of the Bangkok Agreement that was supposed to assure peace and unity in Philippine basketball and will decide the country’s fate after sifting through the evidence at the Hotel Movenpick in Geneva this morning.

FIBA secretary-general Patrick Baumann formed a special commission “to mediate between the parties (SBP and BAP) involved and to seek a solution to the ongoing conflict in Philippine basketball.” The committee was assigned “to review alleged claims of non-compliance with the Bangkok Agreement and the status and subject matter of domestic court cases” related to the battle of recognition between the SBP, recognized as the NSA for basketball by the POC and FIBA, and its predecessor BAP.

The special commission is composed of FIBA secretary-general emeritus Borislav Stankovic, former FIBA president Dr. Carl Men Ky Ching and FIBA legal counsel Ken Madsen.

SBP chairman Gov. Oscar Moreno, vice chairman Ricky Vargas, executive director Noli Eala and lawyer Marievic Anonuevo represented the SBP in the opening session last Monday. Also attending was POC chairman Rep. Monico Puentevella.

The first meeting was scheduled for the special commission to brief the SBP and BAP of the ground rules, guidelines and objectives of the three-day deliberations. But to FIBA’s dismay, no representative from BAP showed up. Invited to attend for the BAP were chairman Rep. Luis Villafuerte, president Prospero Pichay, executive vice president Christian Tan and lawyer Bonifacio Alentajan.

In his initial remarks, Moreno expressed disappointment over the BAP’s absence and took exception to the creation and composition of the special commission. He said the special commission was formed on the basis of unfounded charges hurled by the BAP and questioned the participation of Dr. Ching who is known to be a BAP ally.

Vargas appealed to the special commission that whatever happens in the discussions, to spare the Philippines from a fourth suspension with the FIBA-Asia Championships only three weeks away in Tianjin.

Although the BAP was absent on the first day, it was found out that Pichay, Tan and Alentajan were booked at the Hotel Movenpik. There was no reservation for Villafuerte. A certain Lim Pei Chen was registered in the hotel but it was not known if he is associated with the BAP. The SBP group is billeted at the Hotel Intercontinental.

“It was a total show of disrespect by the BAP for not appearing in the first joint session with the commission on the joint agreement of ground rules,” said Vargas. “Mr. Stankovic admitted that the SBP is the member of FIBA but wanted further clarification on the membership in SBP. He agreed to an abbreviated schedule where FIBA will decide (the country’s fate) on Wednesday morning (instead of afternoon).”

In the second session Monday afternoon, Eala gave a power-point presentation that lasted over an hour, establishing clearly that Philippine basketball is not in disarray, the SBP has done everything to push for unity and the SBP has faithfully complied with the provisions of the Tokyo communiqué and Bangkok Agreement.

A crucial part of the presentation was a full discussion on the SBP membership issue where it was pointed out that the Nominations and Membership Committee completed a thorough process of validation where even the BAP participated. Documentary evidence was submitted to prove that no one among the BAP or Pilipinas Basketball members was left out.

Eala said the revelation caught the special commission by surprise. “We also explained the status of present cases pending with the Supreme Court and Securities and Exchange Commission,” he went on. “I believe we made significant gains with the commission. They were clearly mis-educated by the BAP and fed wrong information.”

The commission was set to meet exclusively with the BAP yesterday morning but it was not certain if the officials had arrived from Manila. In the afternoon, the SBP and BAP were scheduled to agree on a “modus vivendi” without the commission’s presence.

“We really don’t know what to expect, whether the BAP will show up or not,” said Eala. “But we are prepared for anything. We expressed on record our objection to Dr. Ching’s inclusion in the special commission. He knows we know that he met with the BAP. During a break the other day, he sat with us and insisted he is not for any group. He claimed he told Graham (Lim) to leave Philippine basketball. He claimed he is a friend of the Philippines.” – Joaquin Henson