POC president Jose Cojuangco Jr., Puentevella, secretary-general Steve Hontiveros and legal counsel Egmidio Tanjuatco left for Seoul last Saturday to attend the ANOC meeting and take up the country’s Federation Internationale de Basketball (FIBA) suspension with FIBA secretary-general Patrick Baumann in a private session at the Grand InterContinental Hotel tomorrow night.
"If Mr. Rogge agrees to our request for a courtesy call, we hope to explain to him the approach we’ve taken in complying with the conditions of FIBA for the lifting of our suspension," said Puentevella. "If Mr. Baumann agrees, we could invite Mr. Rogge to attend our private session as the third party to mediate, like an outsider looking in. If we reach a stalemate, perhaps Mr. Rogge could step in to interfere or intervene, if necessary. He could be the key to solve our problem."
But Puentevella said he expects smooth sailing in dealing with Baumann.
"I’m hoping that with or without the stakeholders attending the meeting, we’ll be able to convince Mr. Baumann that we’re on the right track, that we’re doing this for the country and 80 million basketball-loving Filipinos," said Puentevella.
"I haven’t met Baumann. I know he’s an intelligent Swiss lawyer who was Borislav Stankovic’ deputy secretary-general for seven years before he became secretary-general in 2002. I hope he listens to us. I know he’ll listen to reason. We’ve complied with the conditions of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the POC and FIBA in Geneva last year. I see no reason why we can’t move forward."
Puentevella accused the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) of stalling the POC’s efforts to lift the suspension at the country’s expense. He said BAP president Joey Lina should understand it is pointless to push for the reinstatement of the BAP as a National Sports Association after it was expelled by the POC.
"I’ve been silent about Joey’s pronouncements in media," said Puentevella. "Joey’s a friend and I respect him. But there is no way we will allow a few to impose their agenda on the majority to the detriment of Philippine basketball. This is a battle between the republic of the Philippines against Joey and company. The whole country is being held hostage by a few."
Puentevella said if the process of lifting the country’s suspension continues to be hampered by Lina, he vowed to go on a rampage.
"If it appears that Joey has FIBA by the neck, I’m going against him as a traitor of Philippine basketball," he continued. "The BAP is desperately trying to survive because of pride and ego. Joey came into the picture after Sen. (Dick) Gordon backtracked from being appointed a BAP official. Joey never had anything to do with basketball and I’m not sure if he ever played the game. Now, he declares that nothing will happen in the POC’s efforts to lift the suspension."
Puentevella said during an expanded POC Executive Board meeting three weeks ago, he suggested bringing the issue of suspension to Rogge’s attention and meeting Baumann in Seoul.
Regarding the BAP’s threat to elevate the dispute to the Council of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), Puentevella said it will not only prolong the agony but also betray the Filipino people’s trust.
"That’s baloney," he said, referring to the BAP’s threat to seek arbitration. "It would be an act of treason. We are a small country yet we can’t seem to solve this basketball problem by ourselves because of a few people who are ego-tripping. It would be humiliating to bring this internal problem to the high court of sports. I think it’s crazy. The Filipino people would laugh at us because the only thing that the BAP is fighting for is pride. It’s like a life or death issue for the BAP and this is only basketball but the tragedy is the country is suffering because of a few misguided people."
Representatives of four of the sport’s major stakeholders–the Philippine Basketball Association, the Philippine Basketball League, the University Athletic Association of the Philippines and the National Collegiate Athletic Association–are leaving for Seoul tomorrow to join the POC delegation in meeting Baumann early evening.