A solution to BAP mess - SPORTING CHANCE by Joaquin M. Henson

Finally, there’s a solution in sight to the leadership problem in the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP).

Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (PATAFA) President Go Teng Kok yesterday told The STAR he will convince Tiny Literal to withdraw his claim to the BAP Presidency if Freddie Jalasco steps down.

Go confirmed that he is behind the group supporting Literal and Graham Lim, the BAP Secretary-General who was ousted by Jalasco in a bitter parting of ways between two old friends. The flamboyant PATAFA head said he will also pull out the court cases filed against the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and BAP Deputy Secretary-General Tito Tagle if both Literal and Jalasco agree to withdraw.

Go said he paid the P60,000 fee for the Literal group to file the case against the POC.

* * *

"If Freddie resigns, I can convince Tiny and Graham to withdraw," said Go. "Then, (POC President) Sito (Dayrit) can convene a meeting among all the parties involved – including Freddie, Tiny, Graham, and Lito (Puyat) – and choose an OIC. We will respect Sito’s decision because he is the POC President and the BAP is under the POC’s jurisdiction. If I will be asked to nominate an OIC, I will suggest Moying Martelino."

Go explained that he never wanted to rock the BAP boat until Lim appealed for his help.

"Sabi sa akin ni Graham, the POC Arbitration Committee endorsed a BAP election without Freddie appointing new members in the Executive Board," continued Go. "The decision was made after the second hearing last Feb. 7 and the election was to be held 10 days later."

Go said the Committee also assured Lim that it would endorse the BAP’s request of P500,000 from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) to finance the national high school championships in Naga and the intercollegiate competitions in San Pablo City. But as it turned out, Dayrit rejected the Committee’s recommendations, claimed Go.

"Di ko maintindihan si Sito," said Go. "He sacrificed the BAP to save one person – Freddie. He’s not honest to himself. I have full trust and confidence in the Arbitration Committee. Alam ko sina Doni (Altura) at Benjie (Ramos) are independent-minded. They voted against me in the last POC elections – I respect them for that because I know they voted according to their conscience. If the members of the Arbitration Committee included Steve Hontiveros and Buddy Andrada, mahirap na – they are not independent-minded, mga tuta lang sila ni Sito. But Doni and Benjie are different because they cannot be dictated upon."

Last December, Go met with International Olympic Committee (IOC) representative to the Philippines Frank Elizalde in a Makati hotel. Go was accompanied by his allies, including Joaqui Preysler, Mario Tanchangco, Rudy Sicat, and Lim.

"I told Mr. Elizalde I am not in a position to attack the POC," said Go. "I am on the defensive side, not on the offensive side. I conceded to Sito in the POC elections and I congratulated him. I also told him I will support the decisions of the Arbitration Committee if people like Doni, Benjie, Tom (Carrasco), Rene (Adad), and himself are in it. I assured Mr. Elizalde I am on my way out of sports. I am confident our national track team will bring home at least seven gold medals from the next Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. After that, I will retire so people will remember me for the achievement – kasi, in the last SEA Games, one gold medal lang ang nakuha ng track team."

Go said he agreed to support Lim because it’s unfair what Dayrit has done to him. "It’s not because he’s Chinese and I’m Chinese," he went on. "When Moying ran for ABC (Asian Basketball Confederation) Secretary-General a few years ago, I supported him but Puyat and (Nic) Jorge supported Yeoh Choo Hock, a Malaysian, instead. Although Yeoh is a good friend and a Chinese like me, I supported Moying, a Filipino. So walang kinalaman yung racial background. My support is based on principles, not because someone is Chinese or Filipino or whatever."

Go boasted that he has the power to influence Yeoh and ABC President Carl Ching Men-Ky on whom to back up as BAP President.

"Nakakahiya na itong nangyari sa BAP," said Go. "I didn’t want Graham to go to court but there was no other choice. I will make sure all the cases are withdrawn if Freddie steps down. I will also ask Tiny to withdraw his claim to the presidency. Then we can start from scratch."

To arrive at a solution to the problem, there must be sacrifice. Jalasco and Literal must swallow their pride. Go and Dayrit, too – for the sake of Philippine basketball. Will they be man enough to do it?