BAP-SBP gets Conditional POC okay

The BAP-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas will be granted a provisional acceptance by the Philippine Olympic Committee today when the latter holds its General Assembly in Dasmariñas, Makati.

And the moment they get hold of the POC acceptance, BAP-SBP officials led by telecommunications mogul Manny V. Pangilinan will burn the lines with their FIBA (International Basketball Federation) counterparts based in Switzerland.

Rep. Monico Puentevella, POC vice president and head of the membership committee, yesterday motioned and pushed for the granting of the provisional acceptance on the BAP-SBP. International Olympic Committee representative to the Philippines Frank Elizalde seconded the motion.

But for the BAP-SBP to become a regular member, the lawmaker from Bacolod said BAP-SBP should get the approval of FIBA officials, led by secretary-general Patrick Baumann.

A two-thirds vote among the 37 voting members of the POC will give the BAP-SBP the provisional acceptance. When the Basketball Association of the Philippines was expelled from the POC in June, 2005, 33 members voted for the expulsion.

"The POC will hold a General Assembly (today) to approve and recognize the BAP-SBP as a provisional member pending approval of the FIBA which is the international federation," said Puentevella. "Once the FIBA communicates with us and provides its acceptance of the BAP-SBP as the official representative of the Philippines to FIBA, then we will call for another General Assembly," he added.

It is only then that the BAP-SBP will be welcomed as the newest, regular and voting member of the POC. With it should come the lifting of the FIBA suspension on the Philippines.

Puentevella said he expects everything to be finished in a week or two. Then the Philippines can really start looking forward to competing in the international arena after a two-year absence.

Before the POC makes its move today, it will also have to receive the withdrawal of the application filed by Pilipinas Basketball last year.