GTK admits BAP fighting for survival

Controversial sports broker and Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association president Go Teng Kok yesterday called on the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) to attend the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) unity congress on Feb. 5 at the Dusit Nikko Hotel in Makati and offered to arrange a conciliatory meeting among parties whose disagreement has caused the country’s continued suspension by the Federation Internationale de Basketball (FIBA).

Go said he spoke with FIBA secretary-general Patrick Baumann on the phone last week and confirmed the Swiss lawyer’s disenchantment with BAP secretary-general Graham Lim. The overseas call was made before a high-powered SBP delegation flew to Geneva to brief Baumann, FIBA president Bob Elphinston and FIBA secretary-general emeritus Borislav Stankovic on what has transpired in trying to resolve the Philippines’ internal basketball dispute since the Tokyo communiqué was signed last August.

"I spoke with Mr. Baumann for about 30 minutes on the phone," said Go. "He was angry with Graham for, in his words, changing the BAP president every day. I told him I refused Graham’s offer to become the new BAP president. I also explained that Joey Lina was not fired and Sen. Estrada changed his mind about pushing for the BAP’s reinstatement which was his commitment to the Board."

Go said his objective is not to push for the BAP’s reinstatement as a National Sports Association and member of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) General Assembly.

"I just want to end this basketball crisis once and for all," he said. "It has been over 20 months since our suspension and I don’t think it will be lifted unless we Filipinos get together and resolve the problem by ourselves. Graham will listen to me and I hope I can convince the POC to consider a third option."

Go declined to elaborate on a "third option" but said it is not to reinstate the BAP.

"I am not a BAP officer so I cannot speak for the organization," said Go. "All I know is Graham is planning on convening a BAP congress this week, possibly to elect a new president. Whatever happens, I think the BAP should join the SBP congress next month."

Go claimed Lina quit as BAP president "out of frustration that he was not able to convince the POC to reinstate the BAP." He justified Estrada’s removal as BAP president because the BAP Executive Board "felt betrayed — and agreed to relieve him."

Under the terms of the Tokyo accord, the BAP and Pilipinas Basketball would be merged into a unified body, later named the SBP. The BAP’s reinstatement was not a point of agreement.

After his conversation with Baumann, Go sent a letter to the FIBA official admitting the BAP is "an institution fighting for survival." It was an admission that the BAP has no intention of folding up, contrary to the terms of the Tokyo accord.

In the letter, Go said he had a hand in the BAP’s expulsion by the POC but now regrets it. "I failed to realize that BAP was an autonomous national association and had every right to fight for its mandate,"said Go.

"You are correct in citing in a previous document sent to the BAP that politics has a lot to do in basketball affairs and sports in general in the Philippines," continued Go in his letter to Baumann. "While the problem is difficult, it is not totally hopeless. There are still solutions available but both FIBA and the parties involved should be very careful. This could cause the demise of basketball in the Philippines."

Go said Lim has the support of FIBA-Asia secretary-general and FIBA vice president Dato Yeoh Choo Hock of Malaysia and former FIBA president Carl Ching Men Ky whose daughter is a member of the FIBA Central Board.

Go’s offer to arrange a conciliatory meeting was seen by independent observers as a last-ditch effort to save the BAP which has been portrayed as a sinking ship with the defection of treasurer Fritz Gaston and the National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities, the statements of support to the SBP by the Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines and Rep. Eduardo Gullas of Cebu and the successful trip of the SBP delegation to Geneva.