BAP says PSC’s decision on rentals out of bounds, arbitrary

Basketball Association of the Philippines secretary-general Graham Lim said Philippine Sports Commission acting executive director Edgardo Mateo was "twisting" facts in his "arbitrary" and "anti-sports" decision requiring national sports associations to pay rental fees for the use of the Rizal Coliseum.

Lim said the BAP was not asking the PSC to exempt the basketball association from the payment of P62,100 in rental fees for the use of the RMC for the fourth Ambrosio Padilla Cup.

According to Lim, the BAP merely wanted clarification from Mateo, who made the decision without due process.

"We didn’t ask to be exempted. Tinatanong lang namin sa kanya, kung bakit bigla-bigla, naniningil ang PSC when in fact, hindi nila kami sinisingil for the past three years," said Lim.

Lim also debunked Mateo’s claim that the decision to assess NSAs rental fees was backed by the PSC board. "Kung merong board resolution, nasaan ‘yun? Walang natatanggap ang opisina ni isang memo from the PSC. Ang totoo niyan, siya lang ang nag-decide niyan without consulting anybody," said Lim. "Napaka-arbitrary" ng decision at napaka-anti-sports dahil pinaalis niya ‘yung mga players na nandoon na sa labas ng coliseum at handa nang maglaro."

Lim added that the streamers put up inside the coliseum for the tournament were for regular sponsors of the BAP.

"Walang bayad yun, dahil matagal na namin silang sponsors. Kumbaga, it’s part of a package deal na matagal nang in effect. He is welcome to ask them if he wants to," Lim added.

As for the supposed P15,000 that San Beda had paid as entry fee, Lim wondered where Mateo got his figures.

"Hindi ko alam kung saan galing ang figures niya. Six thousand pesos lang ang sinisingil namin sa San Beda at hindi P15,000. Why doesn’t he ask San Beda?

Lim said the BAP is not shirking from its obligations, but stressed that the PSC should first meet theirs.

"Kapag gusto nilang maningil, mabilis sila. Pero ‘yung budget nila for basketball for the year, hindi pa nila ibinibigay hanggang ngayon. Pati yung allowance ng mga youth players, tinanggal nila. Ano ba ang mandate nila? Hindi ba they’re supposed to help the NSA? Bakit ngayon kumita ng konti ang NSA, gusto pa nilang kunin?