Friday, January 19, 2007 Lhuillier, Alcoseba to leave hoops body? By Rommel C. Manlosa Sun.Star Staff Reporter
TIRED of the continuing power struggle, erstwhile staunch supporters of the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) officials are now jumping ship from the 70-year-old association.
The latest to jump from the embattled BAP ship is its director and spokesman Fritz Gaston.
Reports from Manila also said that BAP chairman Michel Lhuillier and BAP vice president for the Visayas Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba might be the next to withdraw their support from the organization, which was described by Gaston as a “king with no subjects.”
The National Athletic Association of Schools Colleges and Universities (Naascu), which was a strong ally of BAP, is now giving out their full support to the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas (SBP).
Withdrawal
Board of directors of Naascu, which has member schools such as the University of Manila, San Sebastian College-Cavite, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasay, Holy Angel University, University of Makati, St. Claire College, Centro Escolar University, STI College and New Era University, signed a resolution to join SBP’s allied organization—the Pilipinas Basketball—and withdrew its affiliation with the BAP effective Jan. 12 this year.
“The BAP cannot operate in a vacuum. It cannot be a governing body over no one. It cannot continue to be a ‘king with no subjects.’ The time has come for us to move on," Gaston said.
Yes to unity
Sun.Star Cebu tried to contact Alcoseba for comments about the reported withdrawal of support, but got no answer from his mobile phone last night.
The report stated that Lhuillier and Alcoseba, the owner and coach, respectively, of the the M. Lhuillier Jewelers, is favoring the unity talks initiated by SBP’s Manny Pangilinan.
Gaston, who once played for U-Tex Wranglers in the PBA, said he could not help but reminisce about the old days when all the players had to worry about was playing their best, either for their teams or for flag and country.
"Sadly, players and fans alike are now sidetracked by intramurals that are crippling Philippine basketball. It was unimaginable for the Philippines not to send basketball teams in regional competitions such as the Southeast Asian Games, but the unthinkable has already happened. We have to wake up from this nightmare," he added.
