"We only want courtesy, a little respect. After all, we’re the only basketball authority here in the country. Puwede ba namang may basketball dito na wala namang isang body which has the authority," said BAP legal counsel Bonifacio Alentajan who stressed the BAP’s rights to have consent on the final composition of the RP teams being formed by national coach Chot Reyes for the coming two major tournaments.
Alentajan said once the team has been put up, the final line up and coaching staff will have to be subjected for approval by the BAP prior to its submission to the organizing committees of the two Southeast Asian basketball tournaments.
The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Board of Governors offered the services of Reyes for both the SEABA and SEA Games meets following the appeal of Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose Cojuangco for inclusion of pro players to the RP team to ensure the country’s strong showing in the twin events.
Reyes, 42, has yet to come up with a 12-man team and a coaching staff for both the SEABA and SEA Games meets although he has already formed a training pool of players from the Philippine Basketball League (PBL), University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
Reyes said he also welcomes players from the RP-Cebuana Lhuillier squad, among them Nino Canaleta and Samigue Eman, to try out with the training pool at the Moro Lorenzo gym.