BAP, DILG to promote basketball

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) on Monday inked a pact for the implementation of a mass-based, grassroots development program for basketball and physical fitness.

Local Government Sec. Joey Lina and BAP president Quinteliano "Tiny" Literal signed the partnership at the Century Park Hotel, in the presence of DILG Usec. for legal and legislative affairs Agnes Devanadera, BAP secretary-general Graham Lim and his deputy Jun Lavadia.

"Basketball is undoubtedly the most popular sport in the country, and so we are making this an entry port in DILG’s sports campaign in the countryside," said Lina. "Eventually, we will also branch out to other sports as well."

Lina said that the DILG is a perfect partner for the BAP due to its wide-ranging reach and scope, from the barangay all the way to the provincial level.

Under the program, the BAP and the DILG will conduct the training of DILG and LGU personnel as basketball coaches, coordinators, trainors, tournament officials, coordinators for sports medicine, and the holding of a local basketball competition to be participated in by LGUs from all over the country.

All games, workshops and training seminars will be officiated by BAP-accredited referees.

Literal hopes that with the BAP’s basketball technology dissemination and program with the DILG reaching the grassroots level, untapped talents, who don’t have an avenue to showcase their wares, will now have an opportunity to be discovered.

"Because we are starting from the barangay level, we are able to pinpoint a wide base of pool from where future national teams, could come from," said Literal.