RP Basketball at FIBA's Hands

It's on, then off again, and now on again. It's the never ending story about the country's official status in the eyes of the FIBA. And it's also turning out to be an odd situation. While the FIBA continues to recognize the authority of the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) to stand as the country's official national sports association (NSA), the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) has dissolved the BAP from its ranks and now considers Pilipinas Basketball as the legit NSA for basketball.

The latest episode of this real-life drama that could easily become a hit reality-TV series (or should it be a sitcom?) is that both the BAP and Pilipinas Basketball have been given the opportunity to present their respective sides to the FIBA. Both will obviously present why they deserve to be the official NSA for basketball.

On one side, the BAP is going to claim that they've been the country's long-running NSA that has been a member of good standing of the FIBA. They'll even cite the fact that they once produced a FIBA President in Lito Puyat. They'll also claim to have a large following of the basketball family from Appari to Jolo. Cebu's Michel Lhuillier and Coach Yayoy Alcoseba are officers of the BAP with their brainchild MVBA being an active BAP supporter. What they can't claim, however, is having the biggest leagues on their side.

On the other hand, Pilipinas Basketball will lean on its core members and followers as to why they should be running the affairs of the sport in the country. With the PBA, PBL, UAAP and NCAA on their side, they have the country's top leagues behind them. On the local front, the Gullas / UV family has been supportive of this movement. They'll also boast of a national following, citing the regional officers of the defunct Philippine Basketball Federation (PBF) as their grassroots and nationwide network.

It's really sad why we had to reach such a stage in the history of basketball in the country. The main reason why we'll never be united is due to the fact that politics has become the way of life even in our sports associations. What we fans don't see are all the back-stabbing, squabbling and power play that takes place, all in the name of controlling the most popular sport's affairs.

I've never been a fan of the BAP, but I also feel for them. But they should remember that what we see today is the result of how they've been running the sport all this time. I've always questioned how they can claim to represent the country when they don't have the support of the country's most recognized and organized basketball leagues. I can't even think if a big Manila-based league that has stood up to make its voice heard for the BAP. Yayoy will do that for BAP Cebu, but who is Yayoy amidst the big shots in the PBA, PBL, UAAP and NCAA?

They BAP continues to run the sport today in the same way that they did two decades ago. They've never adjusted to the times and have always taken a hard-line "take it or leave it" style of management that doesn't work anymore today.

I think the start of the BAP's downfall was when they insisted to have control over every basketball league in the country as if they were the only ones who could run a league. They always came down with a threat that a league wouldn't be recognized or sanctioned by the BAP if it didn't follow the BAP's ways, rules and policies. This may have worked during the Marcos time since the government was ran in a similar way, but the bubble was certain. Take note that the rise of the PBA, the country's biggest and most popular league, came when they went on their own, away from the control of the BAP. The PBA was run professionally by qualified corporate managers who took the league to what it has become today. I'm afraid the BAP can't speak or boast of having been able to do the same. Remember that until today, the PBA is "not recognized" by the BAP. Believe it or not!

The country's biggest leagues have followed suit and this is where we find ourselves today. The BAP is indeed the official NSA in the eyes of the FIBA, but it's a team with a very weak bench. On the other hand, Pilipinas Basketball is "unknown" to the FIBA but is souped-up with the country's biggest names in local basketball.

So what will it be, ladies and gentlemen of the FIBA? While I don't really agree to having you decide on something that is internal to us Pinoys, I'm also hopeful that your guidance could lead us out of this rut.

Time-out: Happy birthday to Don Paolo Navarro and Dr. Freddie "German" Madamba! >>> You can reach me at [email protected].

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