Literal still BAP president

There’s no truth to the rumor that Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) president Tiny Literal has been replaced or is on the way out.

The other day, BAP secretary-general Graham Lim quashed talk that Cristy Ramos-Jalasco or Harry Ang Ping or Go Teng Kok would step in to take over from Literal.

"Walang pagbabago," said Lim. "Si Tiny, wala lang comment when the rumor even reached the newspapers. He’s a real gentleman. The BAP assured Tiny he remains the president. He was there for us when FIBA (International Basketball Federation) supervised the BAP elections a few years ago. We are there for him now that maysakit siya. Sabi ko kay Tiny, walang iwanan ito."

Lim said a diabetic condition has weakened Literal but he’s still able to function as BAP president.

"Nagkaroon si Tiny ng sugat sa paa and because diabetic siya, nagtagal ang healing but okay na siya ngayon at nakakalakad na ng maayos," said Lim.

Lim was the BAP’s chief signatory in the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) regarding the formation of the national team. Literal signed the MOA as witness last Thursday. Commissioner Noli Eala is the PBA’s chief signatory and Chairman Buddy Encarnado is the signing witness.

Lim and BAP executive vice president Christian Tan met Eala in Makati last Thursday to signify the Board’s approval of the MOA.

Lim said Ramos-Jalasco is the BAP’s representative in FIBA-Asia’s women’s basketball committee.

"When the rumor came out that Cristy is replacing Tiny, she was abroad," related Lim. "Tinawagan niya ako by long distance telephone at mayroon daw writer na tumawag sa kanya asking about it. We sent Cristy kasi to Malaysia to attend a FIBA-Asia meeting on women’s basketball. FIBA-Asia asked us to recommend a Filipino representative for women’s basketball and we thought of Cristy because she’s capable. She’s involved in FIFA (International Federation of Football Associations) and she’s a former POC (Philippine Olympic Committee) president. She is also recognized as President Ramos’ daughter. But there are no plans for Cristy to become BAP president."

Lim said FIBA-Asia secretary-general Dato Yeoh Choo Hock of Malaysia is aware that the BAP and PBA are finally on the same page in the mission to regain the Philippines’ once lofty position in Asian hoops.

"Dato Yeoh told me that’s good news and he’s excited to send the signed copy of the MOA to (FIBA secretary-general) Patrick Baumann in the FIBA headquarters," said Lim.

Baumann flew in from Switzerland to supervise the BAP elections in 2001 when there was a leadership crisis that led to the Philippines’ suspension from playing in the Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC) Championships in Shanghai that year.

Another suspension loomed when the BAP initially declined to send a team to the Stankovic Cup in Taipei last Nov. 21-27. Lim wrote a letter to Dato Yeoh turning down the invitation last Nov. 3 but the FIBA-Asia official wouldn’t take no for an answer. In the end, Lim was forced to send the Philippine College of Criminology varsity reinforced by three outsiders to participate in the tournament. The team finished last and lost all its five games by a whopping average margin of 36.6 points.

Lim said those calling for a revamp of the BAP hierarchy due to the Taipei debacle are misinformed.

"We couldn’t back out of the tournament," said Lim. "We were threatened with disciplinary action and we couldn’t take the risk of jeopardizing the national team’s participation in the next ABC Championships in Qatar."

Lim brushed off an unconfirmed report that newly-elected POC president Jose (Peping) Cojuangco plans to shake up the BAP leadership when he assumes office in January.

"Papalitan daw ang mga BAP officials ng POC," said Lim. "But we are an autonomous organization. Wala raw kaming programa. ‘Yan ang lagi nilang sinasabi. But kung wala kaming programa, how can we have mga 10,000 people in our referees pool? We have a 55-man national Board that is active. Marami kaming activities all over the country. Ang mandate ng BAP is to coordinate and develop. That’s what we’re doing."

Lim confirmed that the BAP has tapped Go to serve as project director in spearheading the bid to host the 2007 ABC Championships, the qualifying tournament for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, in Manila. Literal and Lim signed Go’s appointment papers last Nov. 30.

Lim said Go was handpicked for the job because of his "strong influence and vast network among sports leaders." Go is a close friend of FIBA president Carl Ching Meng Ky of Hong Kong. China and Korea are also interested in hosting the 2007 conclave.

Clearly, it will take no less than a concerted effort to bring the Philippines back on top in Asian caging. If getting together is good for Philippine basketball, then personal goals and ambitions must be set aside for the national interest.