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SBP Unveiled
Cage body unveiled; lifting FIBA ban next
By Frank Calapre, Correspondent
The Manila Times 09-19-2006
A new name, a new association, and, hopefully, a new era for Philippine basketball.
Choosing the heritage-rich Manila Hotel for the occasion, the Basketball Association of the Philippines and Pilipinas Basketball on Monday jointly announced the newly-created Samahan Basketball ng Pilipinas.
Calling the shots was sportsman-businessman Manny V. Pangilinan, chairman of the three-man panel tasked to unify the two basketball groups, who made the announcement with BAP president Joey Lina and BP head Bernie Atienza.
The unveiling of the SBP came a day after Pangilinan, Lina and Atienza, BAP chairman Michel Lhuillier and PBA chairman Ricky Vargas signed its articles of incorporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“I expressed my gratitude to Joey (Lina) and Bernie (Atienza) for a job well done and for their commitment to unite for the love of basketball and country,” Pangilinan, chairman and chief executive officer of both the PLDT and Smarts Communications, said.
Pangilinan reiterated his unwavering commitment to the newly unified basketball organization, but formally declined to head the new group because of his hectic schedule.
“I am committed to the federation to the best I can. But I can’t be president because our agreement with Joey and Bernie is to have a full time president. I can’t fit into it,” Pangilinan said.
With the SBP in place, he added, the International Basketball Federation can be expected to lift its sanction on the country.
Pangilinan, who donated P1 million as seed money of the new group, disclosed they expect to call the National Congress as soon as the SEC registration is approved.
“The problem now is settled the and in the next 10 days we are hoping FIBA to lift the suspension. I think it’s a good start,” he said.
On the other hand, Lina said FIBA secretary-general Patrick Baumann assured him on Saturday that the suspension will be lifted as soon as the 8-point agreement forged by the two organizations on August 28 in Tokyo, Japan, is enforced.
“I called up Mr. Baumann two days ago in the presence of Manny [Pangilinan] and Bernie [Atienza]. And he was very happy about the development,” said Lina.
The three-man panel also approved the lists of 25 individuals as the founding trustees of the SBPI. Among them are Raul Alcoseba, Elmer Cabahug, Bonifacio Alentajan, Pedro Alfaro, Rey Baula, Fr. Paul de Vera, Tony Fabico, Jose Lina, Manny Pangilinan and Danilo Soria as regional representatives.
Also named to the trustees from the professional sector were Eliezer Capacio, Antonio Chua, Jose Emmanuel Eala, Vargas, while from the school-based sector were Atienza, Jose Capistrano, Mathew Gaston, Christian Tan, Wilson Young.
Lito Alvarez represented the commercial sector along with Michel Lhuillier and Chino Trinidad. Former PSC commissioner Tisha Abundo and Nic Jorge represented the special sector.
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