SBP must forge closer ties with FIBA

MANILA, Philippines - Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas vice chairman Ricky Vargas said forging a better working relationship with FIBA is now among the wishes of the SBP.

Vargas said the SBP should enjoy the full trust and confidence of FIBA in order to avoid controversies that may only lead to waste of time and resources.

“We have to make friends with FIBA, especially FIBA- Asia. There’s got to be a more meaningful friendship with them,” said Vargas.

BAP officials seem to enjoy better understanding with FIBA officials, including former FIBA-Asia president Carl Ching Menky and secretary-general Dato Yeo Choo Hock.

The SBP was placed under scrutiny once more when the Basketball Association of the Philippines, its old nemesis, lodged a formal complaint before FIBA.

The world governing body in the sport then formed a special committee that called on SBP and BAP officials to a costly, three-day meeting in Geneva, Switzerland.

But only SBP officials, including its chairman Oscar Moreno, executive director Noli Eala, legal counsel Marievic Anonuevo and Vargas made it to the trip.

Philippine Olympic Committee chairman Monico Puentevella joined the SBP group, as the BAP failed to send any representative because of what it claimed were visa problems.

After the meeting, FIBA reaffirmed its recognition of SBP as the rightful association in the Philippines, and not the BAP. SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan is hoping this time it’s for good.

“We just hope that the BAP would stop painting a bad picture for FIBA to summon us once more. If the BAP has complaints, then come and see us,” said Vargas.

“There’s no need to tell the whole world. What was sad about us going to Geneva was that we were arguing a Filipino issue and we were arguing before foreigners,” he added.

Moreno, the governor from Misamis Oriental, said it was sad that FIBA was quick stepping into the picture just because of the BAP complaint that had no basis at all.

 “And FIBA believed it as if all the advances the SBP had made meant nothing to them. We try our best and give it our best and it means nothing,” said Moreno.

“That’s the reason that at first we didn’t want to dignify that FIBA hearing because it had no basis. But the threat of suspension was there so we had to go to Geneva,” he added.

“It was an insult to all our efforts. Then the BAP, with all its one-way-mirror complaints, did not attend the meeting. It was the other way around,” Moreno said.

“In behalf of POC we thank FIBA for the trust and confidence on SBP. We hope that this puts a closure to the issue,” said Puentevella.                     – Abac Cordero