POC threatens to scrap RP team

The Philippines will be forced not to send a Philippine basketball team to the Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian Games in September if the court intervenes in the ongoing leadership dispute in the Basketball Association of the Philippines.

This developed as the group of Quintellano "Tiny" Literal elevated the case Monday to the courts and asked for a restraining order to prevent his rival, Freddie Jalasco, from running the affairs of the BAP.

Jalasco was recgonized as the legitmiate BAP president by the POC, but this was contested by Literal, who filed a P5-million court case against Jalasco and the POC .

"I don’t think that’s right," Dayrit told newsmen, referring to Literal’s court complaint. Literal filed the case at the Parañaque RTC even as the POC arbitration committee earlier ordered Jalasco to submit himself to an election soon.

Dayrit, who attended a meeting of the Kuala Lumpur SEAG Organizing Committee last weekend, said the RP team to Kuala Lumpur could be scrapped if the court reversed the POC decision.

The POC, being an autonomous body, should not be subjected to government intervention or court rulings, according to Dayrit.

"An injunction, like the one being sought by Tiny Literal would result in a lose-lose situation. If that happens, there would be no basketball association and there would be no legal reason for us to send a team to the SEA Games," Dayrit said.

Dayrit also stressed the court should not step on the POC’s toes as far as its authority over the NSAs is concerned.

"The courts should respect the authority of the POC in governing sports in the country and at the same time, respect its autonomy. This is a statement of fact," he said.

As this developed the POC announced it would no longer tolerate the actions of certain NSA officials and athletes who are involved in a campaign to smear the image of the POC.

The Philippine Olympic Committee warned national sports association (NSA) officials, coaches and athletes that they could face sanctions if they "take actions that may destabilize and discredit any NSA and the POC."

The POC issued the warning in a resolution approved by the executive committee following developments which it said "disrupted efforts by the Olympic body to settle complaints or disputes" within the NSAs.

A recent case was the demonstration initiated by a group referees and athletes in the premises of the Philippine Sports Commision to portest the leadership of Jalasco. One of the placards also asked Dayrit not to meddle in the internal affairs of the BAP.