Another hoop debacle in offing?

Two years ago, the Philippines was represented by the University of Cebu senior men’s basketball team at the World University Games in Shenzhen, China and the result was disastrous. The Cebu varsity finished dead last in the 23-nation tournament with a 0-7 record and even Hong Kong wound up ahead. The summer version of the Universiade is held every two years and organized by the Federation Internationale du Sport Universitaire (FISU), based in Brussels. FISU claims a world-wide membership of 163 countries.

As its local affiliate, FISU recognizes the Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines (FESSAP) whose secretary-general is Graham Lim. The quirk is the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and CHED (Commission on Higher Education) do not recognize FESSAP as the body to represent collegiate or university sports in the country. Since FISU is itself affiliated with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), there is a concern that FESSAP is not recognized by the POC.

FESSAP is linked to the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) which used to be recognized by the POC as the National Sports Association (NSA) for basketball until the SBP was institutionalized. Last March, the BAP organized a tournament in Bukidnon and the University of Visayas won the national students championship for the right to represent the country at the Universiade in Kazan, Russia, on July 6-17. Even as the championship was not sanctioned by the SBP, the BAP gave it prominence as the 65th edition of the tournament. The BAP president is Sen. Antonio Trillanes.

SBP deputy executive director Bernie Atienza confirmed yesterday the Bukidnon tournament was not authorized or sanctioned by a FIBA affiliate. “FIBA secretary-general Patrick Baumann has written FISU that the basketball team being sent to Russia is not cleared by the SBP which is the FIBA affiliate,” said Atienza. “The POC has also written FISU that the Philippine athletes competing in Russia are not accredited by the POC which has the right to accredit Philippine athletes for international competitions. I am not aware of any action taken so far by FISU in response to the letters from FIBA and POC.”

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The scuttlebutt is before the Universiade gets underway in Kazan, FISU will hold an executive committee meeting and General Congress where the Philippine participation through FESSAP is in the agenda. The UAAP has been endorsed by the POC, PSC and CHED to be the body that should represent the country in FISU. The word is the UAAP will send representatives to submit its case before the FISU General Congress with POC secretary-general Steve Hontiveros in attendance to confirm the endorsement.

“The issue is which body can justify that it represents collegiate or university sports in the country,” said a high-ranking POC official. “Is it FESSAP or the UAAP? The POC’s endorsement will weigh heavily in deciding the issue because FISU is affiliated with the IOC as is the POC. The POC charter has a provision to recognize as member a multi-sport, school-based organization in the Philippines. Recognition must be mutual and simultaneous by the POC and the international sports federations (IFs). FESSAP is not recognized by the ASEAN University Sports Council. Like the Olympics, the Universiade is run by the IFs, one of three components of the Olympic movement aside from the IOC and the National Olympic Committees like the POC.”

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At the last Universiade, the Philippines was the laughing stock and doormat in basketball. Other Asian countries that wound up ahead in the standings were No. 12 Japan, No. 17 South Korea, No. 18 China, No. 20 United Arab Emirates and No. 22 Hong Kong. The Philippines was winless in five preliminary round games, losing by an average margin of 55.6 points. JunMar Fajardo and Luigi Bercede were on the hapless University of Cebu squad that was an embarrassment in the competition. The Philippines bowed to Lithuania, 108-59, Russia, 105-47, Ukraine 102-46, New Zealand 102-55 and Japan 112-44, in the first round.

Fajardo, now in the Gilas pool, tried to hold the fort for the Philippines and scored 16 points against Lithuania, eight against Russia, 11 against New Zealand and 12 against Japan. Bercede, who may be applying for the PBA draft this year and played for Globalport in a practice game in San Juan last Friday, had 10 against Ukraine. Was the team’s performance a reflection of the FESSAP leadership?

In Kazan, the Philippines is bracketed in the so-called Group of Death with defending champion Serbia, Romania, Mexico, Mongolia and Japan. Could it be another disaster in the making? Let’s hope not. The University of Visayas varsity coach is PBA veteran Felix (Donbel) Belano. Some 13,500 athletes from about 170 countries are expected to participate at the Universiade. The Philippines is sending a delegation of 83 athletes to compete in 11 sports – athletics, badminton, beach volleyball, basketball, chess, fencing, judo, swimming, table tennis, tennis and weightlifting.