Only POC can settle BAP row

Gonzalo "Lito" Puyat took up the cudgels for Freddie Jalasco yesterday, saying that the challenge hurled by Quintellano "Tiny" Literal for a one-on-one BAP presidential election with Jalasco is a "non-issue" and that the Philippine Olympic Committee will have the final say on the ongoing leadership dispute in the BAP.

Puyat, chairman of the two warring BAP factions led by Jalasco and Literal, said the latter does not have the right to challenge Jalasco in a one-on-one election because the election which took place last Jan. 17 and named him BAP president is, in the first place, illegal.

"This is a non-issue. Medyo nauuso yata ngayon ang term na snap election. And this is not the solution because this issue, as we all know, is now under the jurisdiction of the POC. Only the POC can make the final decision on this matter," said Puyat, who also laughed off reports that Literal now has the backing of the Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC)and International Basketball Federation (FIBA).

"This is a local problem and although we recognize the ABC and the FIBA, this issue must first be settled here in our country before these two basketball bodies make their decision on which to recognize. In this case, the POC is the Supreme Court," added Puyat, who was BAP president for more than two decades before Jalasco took over in 1995.

"As far as we’re concerned, the only legitimate BAP election was the one we held in Laguna early last year and the POC was then represented by Romeo Ribano. The election last January was illegal because it violated the BAP’s constitution and by-laws, which, for me, is the soul of every institution," Puyat added.

Puyat also doubted Literal’s claim that they have the support of the FIBA, the world’s highest governing body in basketball.

"Hindi nila makukuha ang FIBA. The ABC is a regional body and the FIBA is higher than the ABC. If the FIBA decides to withdraw its recognition of the ABC as a whole, the FIBA has the right to do that. The ABC acted on this issue without giving the other side due process," Puyat said. "Natatawa na lang ako sa kanila."

As this developed, ABC president Carl Ming Ching clarified the Asian body is not recognizing any group contrary to claims by Literal’s group that they have the support of the ABC.

Ching explained that the ABC could not intervene with internal problems of the BAP and has left it to the POC to resolve the issue.

"I have never given any group an approval nor does ABC have the authority to recognize any of them," said Ching, in an official statement yesterday. "They should just settle that matter in their own country and let their National Olympic Committee decide on it.

Meanwhile, BAPI secretary-general Nic Jorge asked the POC that their side be included in the ongoing row.

Jorge, who was unceremoniously booted out by Jalasco’s group in 1996, said BAPI should also be consulted since it is the basketball association duly recognized by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Based on a SEC decision last Nov. 10, Jorge’s BAPI has the exclusive right to use the name. — With report from Joey Villar