‘BAP holding RP basketball hostage’

Caught in the crossfire of the feuding the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) and the Philippine Basketball Federation (PBF), national team coach Chot Reyes yesterday said the BAP holds the key in the lifting of the FIBA suspension and the unhampered staging of basketball in the coming Southeast Asian Games here.

While stressing that he doesn’t want to take sides with any of the warring cage groups, Reyes maintained that the BAP leadership has the sole power to persuade the FIBA to lift the suspension and allow the country to play again in FIBA-sanctioned international tournaments, including the SEA Games slated Nov. 27-Dec. 5.

Reyes aired his observation before yesterday’s PSA Forum at the main function room of the Pantalan Restaurant in Manila where he appeared along with national team members Asi Taulava, Jayjay Helterbrand, Romel Adducul and Dondon Hontiveros two days after the RP men’s cage team won the title in the Shell Rimula Cup basketball tournament in Brunei.

The decision of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) General Assembly to expel the BAP from its ranks led to the FIBA suspension of the country’s participation in the various international competitions.

Although under suspension, the FIBA however maintained that the BAP remains as the sole cage association it recognizes in the country pending the result of the investigation it is conducting on the controversial expulsion issue.

It is precisely this FIBA recognition to where the BAP stands its case to the consternation of majority of the basketball-loving Filipinos, according to Reyes.

"All the BAP has right now is that FIBA recognition, but it doesn’t have the support of the major stakeholders in basketball, it has no program and has no funding. Unfortunately, we’re being held hostage by that recognition," said the RP mentor in the public sports program sponsored by Red Bull, Circure, Supermax, PAGCOR and Manila Mayor Lito Atienza.

Reyes added only BAP president Joey Lina has that sole power to talk and convince FIBA to lift the suspension and allow the country to play again in international tournaments.

"Somebody has to make that move and of the 80 million Filipinos, he’s (Lina) the only one who can allow us to play. Whatever Mr. (Jose) Cojuangco does, I don’t see Fiba lifting the ban. Of course, I may be wrong," said Reyes.

He also mentioned a controversial BAP figure who has allegedly caused the current basketball mess.

"I may get into trouble with this, but let’s call a spade a spade. If there’s only one person na problema then let’s deal with him," he said. "Why allow a country to suffer just because of one person."

Reyes said poor leadership made Philippine basketball suffer badly in the last 10-15 years that it will take a gargantuan task to help it get back on its feet.

"It will not take overnight for us to put things in order. We can’t expect a solution overnight," the stylish mentor stressed.

He is hoping the program he laid down for the national squad would be the perfect way to start things all over. But unless warring cage leaders get their acts together, he said all the efforts and hard work will all go for naught.

The members of the national pool, including the core of the team that won the recent Shell Rimula Cup in Brunei will also appeal to the BAP to allow them to play in the SEA Games.