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Tuesday, June 20, 2006
BAP ‘gets closer’ to being retaken by POC execs
Getting a vote of confidence from Fiba-Asia, which unanimously endorsed to lift the Philippines’ suspension from international basketball, is a step for the Basketball Association of the Philippines on its way back into the ranks of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).
BAP, under the leadership of former senator and DILG secretary Joey Lina, has opened its doors to the professional, commercial and collegiate leagues to contribute players for the national team.
Lina has even invited the newly-formed Pilipinas Basketball (PB) to become one of BAP’s stakeholders after the BAP congress last Friday.
“BAP had a congress last Friday. We were not able to attend because of a prior commitment. I still don’t know what the amendments are but I know these are sfor the good of basketball,” said Raul Alcoseba, Cebu City councilor and BAP-Visayas vice-president.
According to a press statement released by Lina, the congress mainly tackled matters surrounding the formation and training of the national team – one of the issues raised by the POC when it expelled BAP.
“We are willing to talk to them. We are going to meet with them now that the charter has been relaxed on professional, commercial and other collegiate organizations,” said Lina.
Alcoseba and BAP chairman Michel Lhuillier are seeking to unite the Visayas and Mindanao under BAP.
With the suspension of the country and PB’s application to replace BAP in Fiba denied twice, the Philippines failed to compete in Fiba tournaments including the Fiba Asia Championships, which served as a qualifying tournament for the World Basketball Championships.
The Fiba Central Board, composed of the international governing body, will convene in Japan in August and Lina said he hopes they will finally decide to lift the Philippines’ suspension so the country can join the Asian Games in Qatar in December.
“Let’s place things in a proper perspective. What the other group claims that Philippines could get a wild-card entry to the World Championship if the ban is lifted is far from reality. Teams in the world championship qualified in their respective regions and there is no such thing as a wild-card entry. What Lina and BAP are trying to do is give the country a chance to play in the Asian Games in Qatar,” said Alcoseba.
If the Philippines wins in the Asian Games, it will qualify to the 2008 Olympics in China. (RCM)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (June 20, 2006 issue)
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