THE Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc (Cesafi), which plays a huge role in the national governing body for basketball, is making a huge move that could douse the ongoing inferno that split the national governing body for basketball in two.
“If imperial Manila cannot unite for the good of basketball, then we will take the initiative here in Cebu and unite for the sake of basketball,” said Cesafi commissioner Felix Tiukinhoy.
Tiukinhoy said that after the uneventful national congress with the Basketball Association of the Philippines-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (BAP-SBP)- Manny Pangilinan wing, he and Cesafi representative to the BAP-SBP, lawyer Baldomero Estenzo, said that they will recommend to the board that they will abide in both BAP-SBP factions.
“Although subject to Cesafi board approval, the Cesafi will be members of both BAP-SBPs (the other led by former congressman Butch Pichay), cooperate with both until such time when things will be settled and a body will finally be named the official NSA,” Tiukinhoy said in yesterday’s press conference.
Tiukinhoy said that the BAP-SBP of Pangilinan, which asks for blind loyalty from its members, will surely ask questions considering that Cesafi is one of the major stakeholders of BAP-SBP.
“If that happens, we will ask them to clarify what needs to be clarified. They should answer questions that we asked during the congress, which they swept under the rug,” said Tiukinhoy.
During the congress, Estenzo asked Pangilinan about the status of the BAP-SBP having two factions and why both could not unite.
Pangilinan refused to answer the question.
As of the moment, there are two sets of BAP-SBP officials as the two factions held their own elections days apart with both groups questioning the legitimacy of the other.
To show the interest for unity, Tiukinhoy will be accepting Pichay group’s offer to make him the commissioner of the upcoming Asian University Games Basketball Championships, pending the approval of the Cesafi board.
The competition, which will be held in Cebu, is slated to open on July 5-12. It will be participated by the reigning National Students Basketball Championships titlists Southwestern University, runnerup and seven-time Cesafi champions University of the Visayas, Angeles University Foundation, University of Pangasinan, Hanyang University of Seoul from South Korea and a team from China. (MCB)
