Pangilinan key to BAP row solution, says Jalasco

As far as Freddie Jalasco is concerned, businessman Manny Pangilinan taking over the Basketball Association of the Philippines could be the best solution to the six-month leadership dispute within the beleaguered basketball body.

Jalasco, who served as BAP head from 1996 until early this year, yesterday said that since Pangilinan is acceptable to the leaders of the two camps disputing the presidency, then they might as well step aside and give the PLDT president a free hand to run the BAP.

"I’m still hoping that both parties will give way to Mr. Manny Pangilinan because that’s the best solution to this problem," said Jalasco, referring to Gonzalo "Lito" Puyat and Quintellano "Tiny" Literal, both claiming to be the rightful BAP head.

"Even in the capacity of an OIC (officer-in-charge) so we can just break the impasse and help the country perform its commitment in the ABC tournament and the SEA Games," added Jalasco.

The leadership dispute being brought to court has forced the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) to impose an indefinite suspension on the BAP until the issue, which started last December, is finally settled.

Due to the suspension, the Philippines will not be allowed to compete in this month’s Asian Basketball Confederation men’s championship in China, and September’s Kuala Lumpur SEA Games where the Filipinos are the defending champions.

These are the main reasons why the BAP problem will have to be settled as soon as possible. A meeting among Philippine Olympic Committee president Celso Dayrit, Puyat and Literal has reportedly been set for tomorrow.

If the meeting, arranged in part by Philippine Sports Commission chairman Carlos Tuason, pushes through, the idea of Pangilinan taking over as the BAP will be brought up. And if Puyat and Literal agree, then the FIBA suspension will be lifted.

Pangilinan was named chairman of the Puyat faction during their June 7 elections while Literal, for his part, named Isabela Congressman Antonio Abaya his during their June 20, court-sanctioned elections.

The FIBA, the world governing body in basketball, said it will only lift the BAP suspension if a new leadership – acceptable to the POC and the two warring factions – is installed, or if they agree to have the dispute settled by a FIBA panel.

Pangilinan is not new to basketball, being the owner of the Mobiline franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association, and the biggest supporter of the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the UAAP.