Initial talks in Geneva positive — SBP

Prime movers of Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas (SBP) expressed renewed optimism on their bid to solve the cage impasse back home as they emerged from their initial round of discussions with the International Basketball Federation leaders at the FIBA headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland Friday night.

PBA commissioner Noli Eala, in an email message, said their initial meeting lasted two hours with the "tone and substance of discussions wide-ranging and positive."

The SBP delegation, composed of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, business mogul Manny Pangilinan, PBA chairman Ricky Vargas, PLDT’s Al Panlilio and Eala, talked to FIBA secretary-general Patrick Baumann and executive assistant Samia Odell Friday.

The bilateral talks will resume Sunday (today in Manila) with FIBA president Bob Elphinston and former secretary-general Boris Stankovic joining Baumann and Odell in the discussions.

"We came to Geneva to report personally to Mr. Baumann what the three-man panel has accomplished so far in accordance with the Tokyo agreement as well as to open direct communication lines with the FIBA. I am happy to report that we have achieved both," said Pangilinan in the statement.

The SBP delegation briefed Baumann in its efforts to complete the mandate of the Tokyo accord by calling a unity congress among all stakeholders on Feb. 5 in Dusit Hotel.

For his part, Estrada, former president of the Basketball Association of the Philippines, assured FIBA of his full commitment to respect the joint communique and to move further SBP’s unity efforts despite his loss of status with the BAP.

While affirming their commitment to uphold the Tokyo accord, the Filipino cage leaders appealed to FIBA officials to take more concrete and active steps to help resolve the basketball impasse with finality.

Pangilinan stressed the need for FIBA to take a more active role in urging all parties in the joint communique to continue to abide by and respect its provisions.

"The FIBA can be likened to a regulator which needs to provide direction either through persuasion or firm decision in order to implement agreements. This is the best, if not the fastest, way to regain our accreditation. It is a point that Mr. Baumann endorses," Pangilinan said.

Eala said Baumann assured them of FIBA’s continuous commitment to the joint communique entered into by Pilipinas Basketball and the BAP in Tokyo in August last year.

"He emphasized that continuous adherence and compliance with the joint communique by all basketball stakeholders will be critical in solving the basketball crisis in the country," said Eala.

Vargas, meanwhile, reported that Baumann expressed satisfaction on the PBA’s decision to lend its players to the national team and to shorten its calendar to assure that the country is represented in international tournaments by its best players.

The Filipino cage officials are hoping that the FIBA suspension is lifted soon so that the country can vie for an Olympic berth in the FIBA-Asia championship in July in Japan.