Puyat re-elected BAP president

The Basketball Association of the Philippines group of Gonzalo "Lito" Puyat pushed through with the cage body’s elections – as planned and as scheduled – at the Manila Bank Building in Makati City yesterday despite the absence of rival Tiny Literal and his group and an eleventh-hour court order resetting the controversial elections to a new date.

The elections, wherein the Philippine Olympic Committee was represented by Col. Buddy Andrada, saw Puyat regain the BAP presidency which he held from 1968 until 1996 with a 13-0 count. Before Puyat’s election, PLDT big boss Manny Pangilinan was elected chairman via a similar 13-0 vote.

Literal, the leader of the other BAP faction, did not show up in the elections despite having maintained that his group had the numbers in the electorate. Instead, he called a press conference at the Century Park Hotel where he called Puyat’s election as "an assembly of impostors" because it violated a court order which he claimed only worsened the situation in the cage body.

"Defying the court order is a clear act of defiance of the rule of law," said Literal. "Nobody is above the law and that election only reflects Puyat’s penchant for dictatorship as seen in his 27-year rule as president of the BAP."

The absence of Literal and his supporters, however, failed to stop the Puyat group from pushing through under a certain provision of the BAP’s constitution and by-laws.

"It’s a pity that the other group, led by Mr. Literal, chose not to appear. But I will continue to extend my goodwill and my effort to unify the BAP because this is the only way to help the Philippines get back to where it belongs, particularly in Asia" said Puyat, who became BAP chairman when Freddie Jalasco was named president in 1996.

In his presscon, Literal was accompanied by 19 other members who included Graham Lim, Christian Tan, Tony Fabico and Boni Alentajan, the group’s legal counsel.

Also in the Literal camp were Edgar Fabila, Douglas Mosquito, Luis Samson, Antonio Abaya, Antonio Angeles, Johnny Tam, Julius Lavadia, Juan Aquino, Lucrecio Calo, Jose Bernad, Jr., Rico Medina, Regina Cua, Arturo Valenzona and Anthony Sulit.

The elections came a day after Judge Artemio Tipon of the Manila Regional Trial Court denied a temporary restraining order sought by Literal’s group for the elections to be called off. Tipon, however, issued an order to have the elections be held instead on June 20 and at the library of Manila RTC, thus making the issue even more complicated.

Puyat’s counsel, Brigido Dulay, said the mere fact that the TRO was denied was enough for them to continue with the elections since the order rescheduling the elections was not included in Literal’s prayer for a TRO.

"I feel that we would not be subject to contempt because it is very clear that the TRO was denied. Therefore, as far as our interpretation of the decision is concerned, there is no legal impediment for us to hold this election. In fact, we have filed a motion for reconsideration on Judge Tipon’s decision," said Dulay.

The court case dragging on will not help Philippine sports in any way, according to Puyat. "This is a very dangerous precedent because from now on, any Tom, Dick and Harry can go to court in questioning the POC, and I can’t imagine the humiliation and embarrassment the Philippines will suffer once it is suspended by the International Olympic Committee on the grounds of government intervention," Puyat said.

After his election, Puyat lined up his priorities and these are the preparations for the SEA Games in September, informing the International Basketball Federation of the results of the election, the convening of the executive board and the formation of a new national team. He also announced the appointment of Nic Jorge as new secretary-general and Moying Martelino as vice president for operations.

Aside from Puyat, Jalasco and Dulay, those who voted yesterday were Rey Tang as proxy for Jaime Dichaves and Calo, Eduardo Gullas, Tito Tagle, and Jorge for Edgardo Avila.

The Literal group said it will let the court handle the situation and it will only vote on June 20.