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Saturday, November 05, 2005
Oyson: Basketball may be held in Bangkok
By Manuel N. Oyson, Jr.
CounterPunch
Here's a bit of good news and bad news. The good news is, men’s basketball may be played in the 23rd Southeast Asian Games (Seag). The bad news is, it may be staged in Bangkok, instead of Manila. That is, assuming the Seag Federation Council overrules the International Basketball Federation (Fiba) and allows it to be staged after all.
Only a collective decision by the Federation on the issue will be acceptable to all parties, said the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) chief Peping Cojuangco. And why Bangkok instead of host Manila? The reason advanced by Cojuangco is the Seag FC will convene in the Thai capital on Nov. 11.
CHOICE. A collegial decision is to be made on the issue of including basketball in the biennial staging of the Seag. He explained Bangkok is the practical choice as the venue because all Seag members will be attending the kickoff ceremony of the indoor meet of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) starting Nov. 12.
Cojuangco blamed Fiba for being indifferent to the POC’s request to allow the host to defend its title in the Seag. He admitted he has been unsuccessful in convincing Fiba to stage basketball in the Seag, a sport that is extremely important to Filipino sports fans.
He, however, expressed hope the Federation can come up with a happy solution to the problem, one that is acceptable not only to the sports officials running basketball, but also to the athletes who have been training for many months.
But time is practically running out as the 23rd Seag is barely three weeks away.
The POC and the Seag Federation have to move heaven and earth to accomplish the gigantic task of allowing the host Philippines to be allowed to play. One way out, as suggested by Fiba secretary-general Patrick Baumann in a letter to the POC dated Oct. 27, is to reinstate the Basketball Association (BAP) as a member of the POC.
BITE THE BULLET. That means that all the 33 other members of the POC, including Cojuangco himself, who voted to expel BAP last June, have to swallow their pride. Or bite the bullet. Cojuangco, according to Baumann, even suggested Fiba consider some form of temporary recognition/approval of the BAP by the POC during the Games from Nov. 27-Dec. 5.
Baumann thumbed down the suggestion. He said it would not be acceptable to Fiba “considering how events have evolved so far in the Philippines.” The RP situation “does not seem to be as peaceful as desired and will thus be long and tedious.”
Incidentally, members of the 800-strong Team Philippines were treated to a night of dance music yesterday at the Philsports football field. Were members of the RP national basketball team also invited?
QUOTE OF THE DAY. “It is public knowledge that everyone wants basketball in the Seag but Fiba has been indifferent to our requests so we are left with no choice but to bring this issue to the Council.” -POC President Jose Cojuangco.
(sports@sunstar.com.ph)
(November 5, 2005 issue)
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