Friday, June 13, 2008 Basketball gets messy By Marian C. Baring Sun.Star Staff Reporter
IT’S back to the courtroom for the warring factions of Philippine basketball.
Instead of a possible settlement, the basketball battle between the warring factions, both claiming to be the Basketball Association of the Philippines-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (BAP-SBP), continue on a different court—at the Manila Regional Trial Court.
Yesterday, after dodging a possible restraining order, the supposed elections of the other faction of the basketball body, the BAP-SBP, or the SBP group, had turned into a five-minute appointment of a prepared line-up.
Getting a fresh term is communication tycoon Manny Pangilinan, who will serve as president until 2012. Oscar Moreno, the governor of Misamis Oriental, was named the chairman, replacing Luis Villafuerte, who had long since jumped to the BAP faction.
Reinstated into their posts were PLDT official Ricky Vargas as the vice-chairman and Marievic Anonuevo as secretary. Jay Adalem was made treasurer and the chairman of the finance committee.
Former Philippine Basketball Association commissioner Noli Eala, who now runs a national competition, the Liga, was named the new executive director.
“I assured each and everyone that there is no conflict of interest being the founder of the Liga Flipina and being executive-director of the BAP-SBP,” said Eala.
However, things remain hanging as the faction of BAP had filed a case last Wednesday, against the BAP-SBP proceedings.
Taking the issue to court could mean that the Philippines once more face the possibility of another suspension from Fiba.
Waiting game
“It is now a waiting game. Let us wait and see what will happen next,” said Baldomero Estenzo, who represented BAP-SBP stakeholder Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi).
In 2005, Fiba suspended BAP and the Philippines from international competitions after infighting between various stakeholders reached the courtroom.
SBP however, is confident that things will work out in their favor. “There is nothing to worry because the BAP-SBP of MVP (Pangilinan) has the full support of Fiba,” said former executive director Patrick Gregorio, who was even relieved that it was taken to court hoping that it could be the way to settle things.
Desperate move
Pangilinan labeled the move of BAP as a “desperate move from a sham group.” BAP, which staged its own elections last week, filed the case in an attempt to get a restraining order for the elections yesterday. They failed to do so and instead, representatives from both parties will face each other in the summary hearing this morning at the Manila Regional Trial Court.
Meanwhile, the mission the Cesafi set itself to do fell on deaf ears after the BAP-SBP decided to go on with the elections and not heed any questions pertaining to the issues hounding the organization.
“Before the nominations were closed, I made an objection and asked Pangilinan why BAP-SBP, a unification body, now has two separate factions, but he refuses to answer the questions,” said Estenzo.
Pangilinan told him that he did not want to dwell on the past and just move on. Estenzo said that he could not force the issue since they are bound to keep mum about it because of the pending case.
Another insider at the elections said that it was disappointing because no one, except Estenzo, stepped up to the plate and showed interest in clarifying the issue.
“It was a stakeholder of silence. Not one, except for Estenzo, said anything at all. It was not an election, more of a formalization of the line-up that they have in mind,” the source said.
Yesterday’s congress was attended Philippine Sports Commission chairman William “Butch” Ramirez and commissioner Richie Garcia and POC president Jose Cojuangco.
Also in the congress were POC secretary-general Steve Hontiveros, sepak-takraw’s Mario Tanchangco, pencak-silat’s Jamalul Kiram, Rep. Monico Puentevilla, Rep. Eddie Gullas, Rep. Amado Bagatsing, squash’ Romy Ribano and baseball’s Hector Navasero. (With FCC)
