OCA defies FIBA

There is no three-year rule for naturalized players in the FIBA guidelines for world-wide eligibility but the Organizing Committee of the Incheon Asian Games has insisted the requirement must apply for basketball in the next edition of the quadrennial event on Sept. 19-Oct. 4.

The Organizing Committee has denied eligibility to the Philippines’ Andray Blatche and Chinese-Taipei’s Quincy Davis because both fall short of the residency period. Blatche was cleared to play for the Philippines at the FIBA World Cup in Spain and Davis was similarly given the go-signal to suit up for Chinese-Taipei at the FIBA Asia Championships in Manila last year.

FIBA used to apply the three-year residency rule when each country was allowed to recruit a maximum of two naturalized players. But the rule was scratched when Hakeem Olajuwon was granted US citizenship virtually overnight to play for the host nation at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. While the three-year residency rule was no longer stipulated, FIBA set a limit of one naturalized player per country. Additionally, FIBA ruled that a player may suit up for only one country in his playing lifetime, meaning a dual citizen must choose which of his two countries’ passports to submit for eligibility.

In 1983, the Philippines showed up for the FIBA Asia Championships in Hong Kong with naturalized players Jeff Moore and Dennis Still. While they had stayed in Manila the last three years, the BAP failed to submit their documents to FIBA in order to set the time running for the prescribed residency period. The FIBA Asia technical committee, led by China, convened after the Philippines won its two preliminary round games with Still and Moore and promptly, disqualified the players, reversing the outcome. The Philippines, coached by Ron Jacobs, didn’t lose a single game but could only finish in ninth place.

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At that time, the BAP was the country’s governing body for basketball. It was eventually supplanted by the SBP. The BAP could’ve argued that Still and Moore complied with the spirit of the law and provided proof of residency but presumably for political reasons, didn’t push for it. China bulldozed its way to declare Still and Moore ineligible after allowing them to play in the preliminaries so as to nullify the Philippine wins and disqualify Jacobs from the quarterfinals. In 1986, China could no longer hold back Still and Moore and the Philippines won the FIBA Asia title in Kuala Lumpur. It took over 20 years before the BAP was finally disenfranchised and discredited by the POC.

At the coming Asian Games, China is back as the neighborhood bully. South Korea, as host, is playing along with China because both countries are wary of Blatche’s impact on the championships. With Blatche in harness, the Philippines came close to beating world No. 3 Argentina in Spain last week. Surely, the Chinese and Koreans monitored that game closely.

Although FIBA has dispensed with the three-year residency rule, the Organizing Committee is basing the disqualification of Blatche and Davis on it. Davis is more like a victim of collateral damage because Blatche appears to be the main target of prohibition.

In the Asian Games rules, the three-year residency period applies to athletes who’ve played for one country and are switching to another. Some International Federations allow the switch but not FIBA. The Organizing Committee is conveniently interpreting the residency requirement as applicable to naturalized players. The Philippines is, of course, contesting the blatant misinterpretation but if it comes to a vote, there’s no way the majority will not back up China and South Korea. Unfortunately, logic and fair play aren’t recognized in meetings that decide issues like this.

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FIBA secretary-general Patrick Baumann has written to the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) to express dismay over the ruling. The Asian Games, after all, use FIBA referees and FIBA rules for the basketball event. There is no reason why FIBA eligibility prescriptions should not be respected by OCA. If FIBA can allow Blatche to play at the World Cup, surely, he can play at the Asian level. If not, it’s like a slap on FIBA’s face by the Organizing Committee and OCA. Baumann has called the IOC’s attention to this injustice but the Organizing Committee ignored the FIBA admonition.

Here are excerpts of Baumann’s letter:

  “We have been informed that you are in charge of entering and accrediting the various athletes for the upcoming Asian Games in Incheon and have just been informed that you have delisted from Entry one of the basketball athletes for the Philippine delegation. We would like to inform you that FIBA establishes the eligibility criteria for all basketball athletes worldwide for the purpose of their participation in national team competitions in official basketball competitions organized or sanctioned by FIBA.

“The player that you have prohibited Entry plays is registered in FIBA’s eligibility system as a player for the Philippines and has, in fact, just played several games this past week at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain for that country. It is quite confusing to hear that he is now not allowed to compete for the same team just a few weeks later. You may not know, but – probably similar to other sports – FIBA’s eligibility rules apply, as an example, for all FIBA World Championships and for the Olympic Games. Also as an example, during an event like the Asian Games, FIBA’s International Referees officiate the Games and apply the Official Basketball Rules as edited by FIBA.

“I am sure therefore that there must be a misunderstanding and I would kindly request that you review your decision and apply FIBA’s regulations on eligibility for all teams participating in the basketball tournaments at the Asian Games and re-enlist the Filipino player. This would certainly be fair for the athlete concerned and his country.

“Equally, if the same set of eligibility rules, namely that of the International Federation, is being applied to all international basketball events for national teams across the world, it ensures clarity for the media and the fans alike and credibility for the sport.”

The Philippines will press for Blatche’s eligibility at a meeting with the Organizing Committee in Incheon on Sept. 11.  But it’s possible that if OCA heeds FIBA’s advice, Blatche may be given the nod before then and Davis, too.