Suspensiyon di pa naalis pero...

SEOUL – Hindi lamang minsan kundi dalawang beses nagtagpo sina Federation International de Basketball (FIBA) secretary-general Patrick Baumann at ang Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) officials sa pagsisikap na maalis ang suspensiyon ng bansa sa Grand Intercontinental Hotel dito noong Martes.

At bagamat hindi pa natatanggal ang suspensiyon, sinabi ni POC president Jose Cojuangco Jr. na mas may lunas na siyang nakikita sa madilim na daan matapos ang isang oras na sesyon sa hapon at dalawang oras at 15 minutos naman kagabi.

Si Cojuangco ay sinamahan nina POC first vice president Rep. Monico Puentevella, secretary-general Steve Hontiveros at legal counsel Egmidio Tanjuatco sa narturang meeting.

Dumalo din ang apat na kinatawan ng major cage stakeholders--Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), Philippine Basketball League (PBL), University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) at National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

Kasama naman ni Baumann sa unang meeting sina FIBA secretary-general emeritus Borislav Stankovic at outgoing FIBA president Carl Ching Menky. Sinamahan din siya ni incoming FIBA president Bob Elphinstonin sa ikalawang meeting.

"The meetings opened FIBA’s eyes to the reality of basketball in the Philippines," ani Cojuangco. "Our goal was to fully explain the facts that led to the expulsion of the BAP (Basketball Association of the Philippines) by the POC. We also wanted to find out the next steps to take in complying with the conditions of our Memorandum of Understanding withFIBA leading to the lifting of our suspension."

"If Lina steps aside, the problem issolved and the suspension is lifted automatically," ito ang naging pahayag ni Baumann sa pagtanggi ni BAP president Joey Lina na suportahan ang Pilipinas basketball.

Inakusahan ni Puentevella si Lina sa paghohostage nito sa bansa sa kanyang pagtangging sumuporta na magiging daan para maalis ang suspensiyon at makabalik ang bansa sa pagsali sa international tournament na may patnubay ng FIBA at pagtatangkang makabalik sa eksena ang Philippine basketball sa mapa.