Article by: Nelson Beltran, PHILSTAR.COM
Photo: Joey Mendoza
MANILA, Philippines – The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, under the leadership of telecoms main man Manny V. Pangilinan, yesterday stressed it will not participate in any proceedings to be undertaken by a “Fiba Special Commission” formed by the Fiba Central Committee to help “resolve ongoing controversy” in Philippine basketball.
In a press conference at the PLDT office in Makati, Pangilinan and the SBP board deplored the Fiba move, which they considered “unwarranted intrusion to the affairs of a national federation.”
The SBP president said they should protest this move even as he expressed concern the country may be suspended again by the Fiba and the Powerade Team Pilipinas be barred from competing in the Fiba Asia championship in Tianjin, China on Aug. 6-16.
In the same conference, the SBP distributed copies of an 11-page letter it sent to the Fiba on June 12, maintaining its stand not submit itself to the jurisdiction of the special commission.
Fiba secretary general Patrick Bauhmann had a short reply on June 18, strongly urging the SBP “to participate in these meetings which are held exclusively in the interest of the future of Philippine basketball.”
Two days later, special commission chairman Boris Stankovic summoned the leaders of the SBP and the Basketball Association of the Philippines to a meeting in Geneva on July 20-22.
But Pangilinan stressed they’re not coming unless the Fiba “clears to us the real mandate, jurisdiction and scope of authority by the special commission.”
“Why would we enter that when we know it’s a hang jury. They should tell us first the rules of court, how do they judge us,” said Pangilinan.
SBP vice chairman Ricky Vargas questioned the formation and composition of the commission.
“By his admission on news reports, athletics chief Go Teng Kok arranged the meeting between BAP and Fiba leaders in Hong Kong. Then came the announcement of the formation of the commission and who will form the commission? We will not be cowed by this barkada ( buddy) system. They’re using a lot of influence. Siguro kailangan na rin magbago ng Fiba (I think there’s a need for a change in Fiba , too) ,” rued Vargas.
SBP executive director Noli Eala said they will write Fiba another letter, asking the international federation to tell them what this meeting is really all about.
Pangilinan felt the dates of the meeting were clearly chosen for “the SBP to be held hostage.”
“It was set ahead of the Aug. 6 Tianjin tourney to force SBP to bend to the wishes of Fiba. I think it’s not fair, correct and just. The country is made victim and the team pawn to this kind of controversy,” Pangilinan said.
Pangilinan and the SBP trustees were confused and saddened by Fiba’s turnaround from its previous decision, giving full support to the BAP-SBP under Pangilinan, the expulsion of BAP and dismissal of Graham Lim as member of the Fiba Youth Commission.
The Fiba secretary general clearly stated these in a letter to Pangilinan on May 13, 2008.
“In that light, Fiba should have advised the SBP as to the circumstances and events which may have occurred since May 13 as to cause such a fundamental change in the Fiba Central Board’s position in respect of the issues concerning the legitimacy of SBP and Mr. Graham Lim’s suitability to serve as a member of the Fiba Youth Commission,” the SBP said.
The SBP assailed the Fiba for entertaining BAP’s continuous complaints when the world body, in a decision on May 13, said it would no longer recognize any communications coming from the BAP.
“The fact is that the SBP has never been advised of these “various correspondences and continuous complaints, much less furnished with copies of these supposed documents and given an opportunity to address or rebut them prior to Fiba making any decision in respect of the matter,” the SBP said.
The SBP stressed the Philippine Court of Appeals has already affirmed SBP’s compliance with the Bangkok Agreement and the Tokyo Communique.
“We should emphasize that it was the BAP which initiated the judicial action challenging the legitimacy of the June 12, 2008 SBP National Congress and elections. We regard this legal step by the BAP to be significant because it clearly demonstrates its intention and preference to have the matter decided by our Philippine judicial system,” said Pangilinan.
