BAP supports POC on RP 5

In a direct rebuke to his controversial lieutenant, Basketball Association of the Philippines president Tiny Literal yesterday assured the Philippine Olympic Committee of BAP’s all-out support in its bid to form and come up with a highly-competitive national squad to various international competitions, including the upcoming SEABA tilt and the SEA Games.

"I want to assure the POC that the BAP leadership will abide by the resolution granting the POC a free hand to form our national team for several international tournaments, including the Southeast Asian Basketball Association Championship, the Asian Basketball Championship, the SEA Games and the Jones Cup," said Literal in a statement released to the media yesterday.

The resolution was the one forged by the BAP board during its April 21 meeting at the Century Park Hotel where it expressed recognition and appreciation to POC president Jose "Peping" Cojuangco and PBA commissioner Noli Eala for their pledge of support and cooperation to the formation of the RP team for the SEABA and SEA Games.

Unheard of since Cojuangco, also the vice chair of Philsoc (Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee), sought a meeting of all the stakeholders in Philippine basketball three weeks ago, Literal finally broke his silence after meeting with Cojuangco, POC chair Robert Aventajado, athletics and chess chief Go Teng Kong and POC media affairs bureau chief Joey Romasanta yesterday.

"It is very unfortunate that recent statements made by some officers of the BAP sent the wrong signal to the public. But to correct the misimpressions, I met with Mr. Cojuango who clearly articulated that the national interest is at stake here," said Literal.

He stressed that while the BAP unequivocally supports the stand of the POC on the issue, the cage body recognizes that this arrangement does not in any way compromise its autonomy.

"I admonish our officers to refrain from issuing further statements relative to the matter to allow the POC basketball committee to perform its task," said Literal.

He was referring to his sec-gen Graham Lim, who took up the cudgels for the BAP when Literal opted to keep mum after the two-stage cage summit. The BAP came up with a statement last week saying that it (BAP) wanted to be given due recognition and have a say in the formation of the RP teams competing in the SEABA and SEA Games. Lim even hinted at sending an entirely different team to the SEABA competitions.

One thing led to another, including the surprise pullout of the Cebuana Lhuillier squad from the RP Team tryouts conducted by national team consultant Chot Reyes, a move that threatened to stymie the basketball program meticulously planned and put into place by the cage leaders. — Dante Navarro