BAPI wants BAP out of its office at Rizal

After being recognized by the Court of Appeals as the country’s legitimate governing body in basketball, the Nic Jorge-led Basketball Association of the Philippines, Inc. (BAPI) now wants a permanent place at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Jorge, who graced yesterday’s SCOOP Forum along with BAPI legal counsel Cecille Cinco, said they will ask the Philippine Sports Commission to order the other group, the Tiny Literal-led Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP), to vacate its office at the PSC administrative building which also houses the offices of the different National Sports Associations (NSAs).

All these offices are being maintained by the PSC using government funds, and therefore should be occupied only by duly-recognized associations.

The same BAP office was the subject of a nasty tug-of-war a couple of years back during a leadership squabble within the basketball group. It was ordered padlocked by the PSC and was turned over to Literal’s group only after it was recognized by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and later on the PSC, then under Carlos Tuason.

The PSC, now under Eric Buhain, has reserved any action on the matter but has reportedly decided to freeze any financial assistance to amateur basketball until the issue is settled. Itself being a government agency, the PSC, however, might soon be forced to follow the CA ruling – with or without the FIBA or POC nod – and hand over Jorge the keys to the office.

"I have already talked to chairman Buhain and he reiterated to me that as a government agency, the PSC cannot do anything but follow the court decision," said Jorge who will meet with POC chief Celso Dayrit the moment the latter returns from an overseas trip.

"The court has spoken and we expect the BAP and everyone else concerned to follow the rule of law," said Cinco during the weekly public forum.

"If they still refuse, we will have no recourse but to use every legal means within our reach, including seeking the help of the sheriff’s office which, of course, will be our last resort," said the lawyer who looked young and feisty.

Literal’s group has contested the court decision, saying "we (the BAP) are not even bound by a court decision."

Jorge said he plans to write the FIBA as soon as the issue is settled with the POC and the PSC. He said he will then ask the international body to withdraw its recognition of BAP in favor of his group.

But until that happens, the BAPI will have to hold office somewhere else. Maybe near the sheriff’s office?