Ateneo ‘to comply’ with CA ruling vs foreign coaches

MANILA, Philippines – Ateneo is complying with a Court of Appeals ruling several years ago that bars foreigners from taking over coaching jobs in the country's professional and collegiate leagues.

Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines president Alfrancis Chua told The STAR Wednesday that Ateneo team manager Christopher Quimpo texted him saying they will adjust and follow BCAP.

"He (Quimpo) just texted me saying they'll comply," said Chua, who is also Brgy. Ginebra's team governor in the PBA.

Chua was commenting on the issue concerning Gilas Pilipinas coach Tab Baldwin, a Kiwi who was appointed last Monday by Ateneo as the Blue Eagles' new coach succeeding Bo Perasol, whose contract expired after the 77th UAAP season.

Quimpo, when asked, said "We will comply" without going into the details.

Chua said he is willing to sit down and talk to top Ateneo officials and brief them about the existing court ruling and try sort everything out.

"This can be resolved through discussions and talks and I'm willing to sit down with them, make clarifications and explain everything," he said.

Ricky Palou, Ateneo's representative to the UAAP board, said Ateneo is finding ways to resolve the issue with BCAP.

"I think the University officials will try to work out the issue with BCAP," said Palou.

It is not yet known though if Ateneo's next move will either be withdrawing Baldwin's Ateneo appointment or naming a Filipino coach and getting him to sit only as a consultant.

Chua insisted though that Baldwin couldn't coach in the UAAP the same way that kept Barako Bull and San Miguel from appointing Rajko Toroman and Todd Purves as head coaches in the pros.

UP also named Rensy Bajar instead of American Joe Ward as coach because of that ruling.

Interestingly, there is no rule in the UAAP barring foreigners from taking up head coaching jobs in the league following the appointments of Thai Tai Bundit as Ateneo's women's volleyball coach and Korean Kim Chul Sul as Far Eastern U's football coach.

For former BCAP chief Yeng Guiao, it can't be in basketball.

"Anybody, not only BCAP, can challenge Baldwin's appointment," said Guiao, who was responsible for filing a case that led to the same landmark ruling that is preventing Ateneo from getting Baldwin as coach.