No easy job easing out BAP, but we’ll support you — Elizalde

Although it can be done, a new group gaining the recognition of FIBA, the world-governing body in basketball, is not that easy or simple.

Frank Elizalde, the International Olympic Committee representative to the Philippines, aired this sentiment last Wednesday during a meeting where the formation of a new basketball body, one that should take the place of the Basketball Association of the Philippines, was planned and discussed.

"It’s not that simple but you have my support," the distinguished IOC official reportedly said during the meeting held at the Makati residence of POC president Jose "Peping" Cojuangco.

"Basketball (in the Philippines) has for so many years been in an anarchic situation and that the Philippines has been poorly represented in international competitions. We can make history now," added Elizalde of the plan to expel the BAP from the POC roster and form a new association.

It was the first time that Elizalde spoke on the brewing controversy which started when the BAP-formed RP team lost to a team which included movie actors in a lower-ranked tournament in Manila more than a month ago.

The BAP was placed under indefinite suspension by the POC General Assembly for its failure to perform its duties well and for its failure to honor a previous commitment regarding the forming and sending of the RP team to three international competitions scheduled this year.

The Philippines is set to compete in the SEABA Championship in Singapore in August and the SEA Games in Manila in November. The SEABA event is a qualifying for the tougher ABC Championship to be held in Doha, Qatar in September.

With the BAP under suspension, the POC has formed a seven-man committee that will run the affairs of local basketball and is now planning to drop the BAP from its official roster to pave the way for the formation of a new group to be named Basketball Federation of the Philippines, Inc.

To formally expel the BAP, a three-fourths vote or 30 of 39 votes from the General Assembly would be needed. Then the formation of the BFPI can be formed through the election of its first set of officers who will then move for its recognition by FIBA led by its president Carl Ching Menky.

How to win the approval of the FIBA will be a challenge for the new group once it is formed although Carl Ching had said that they will support any move for as long as it is done within the POC by-laws.

Composing the committee are Ret. PNP chief Edgar Aglipay, PBA commissioner Noli Eala, PBL commissioner Chino Trinidad, Ateneo’s Jose Capistrano of the UAAP, Letran’s Vic Calvo of the NCAA, Chito Narvasa of the Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines (BCAP) and Joey Romasanta of the POC.

Aglipay was named head of the committee. However, sources said it will be Romasanta, former head of the Project Gintong Alay and now media affairs chief of the POC, who is expected to burn the lines with FIBA officials.

Romasanta had the chance to meet Carl Ching in Hong Kong a couple of weeks ago also met with FIBA-Asia president Sheik Saud Bin Ali Al-Thani of Qatar. It was Sheik Saud who said that expelling the BAP and forming a new group is a better option for the POC.

He said that with the Qatar Olympic Committee where he was the former secretary-general,"suspensions are not necessary," adding that "we cancel the federation and form a new one."

While under suspension, the BAP cannot draw any financial assistance from the Philippine Sports Commission, the government’s funding arm in sports, and is also facing eviction from its office at the second floor of the PSC administrative building.

PSC officer-in-charge William "Butch" Ramirez yesterday ordered the opening of the BAP stock room beside the Rizal Memorial Coliseum. He said it is not part of the eviction plan against the BAP although the PSC might take over the room for use during the forthcoming SEA Games.