Pacland's Philippine Boxing Forum

668 days more to our team's quest----->



Hey Paclanders! We are back!

Too bad our site went off and thus deleted what we have started about the Philippine Team's quest for the Olympics in 2008. Anyways, I am putting back all what have left in me and so the hope for Olympics must go on.

Allow me to post again my first post, which was an introduction of some sort about the thread, and hope all of us will continue to support and follow the thread. Again, I respectfully ask your cooperation not to reply in this thread because we want this thread like a diary for our RP basketball team going to the Beijing 2008 Olympics. This thread will be a major reference about all what happened and what will happen to our RP team in their quest back to the Olympics. The thread is designed to be like a "one-reading-format" all about our RP national basketball team.

Should anyone wish to talk about the articles or stories posted in this thread, the usual Philippine/NBA basketball forum is the place.

Thank you guys!!!

-------------------------------------
------------------------------The theme of the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Re-post

Dear Paclanders,

Since I joined this site in its early stages of birth, I have seen the awesome increased of members flocking this indigenous creation of Dong Secuya. There is no doubt that this site has become the home of Filipino sports fanatics who in my book, with their humble status, are the real and genuine supporters without any selfish intentions in rallying behind our sports heroes. Boxing is the centerstage of this site and has become the toast of Pinoy pride nowadays.

However, this site also proved that the pride our great forefathers gave us in basketball could hardly be forgotten. There is no question basketball is in our culture and pride is in our blood.

With this, I am initiating this thread for our RP National Basketball Team in their quest to return back the glory that we once belong, the pinnacle of being in the Olympic games.

It is widely known that RP coach Chot Reyes has envisioned with a mission in his four-year national team program to bring back Philippine basketball in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. With our basketball leaders now on the verge of unifying their strengths, there is a big hope ahead that the long lost Filipino respectability in Asian basketball could be once again realised.

The international basketball community and even fellow Filipino themselves have already put RP basketball into obscurity. But what they failed to realise is that the debacle of RP basketball were more of political and leadership crises than talent and knowledge in the sport. Now that determined efforts are being mount out to regain that respectability, the possibility is full of potential.

It has been 34 years now counting from 1972, the agonizing pain of absence in the Olympics for RP Men’s basketball. But the frustration may have been worthwhile after all, all, as it could only be sweeter once we redeem ourselves landing back in the coming Beijing Olympic games.

Landing back in the Olympics is a daunting task for any member of our RP National basketball quintet. But the Philippine basketball team through the PBA have made encouraging progress lately and have carefully and seriously learned how to use its talent and knowledge in the international type of competition.

I wish to make this thread solely dedicated for all the day-to-day developments of RP basketball from the creation of a new cage body, to the lifting of the FIBA ban, up to the selection of players and team preparation, leading to the actual competition in the 2007 FIBA-Asia and on their way back to our realisation of making a return in the Olympic games in 2008.

I hope my fellow Paclanders would support this thread.

Re-post

It started when FIBA invited BAP and PB to the Tokyo Congress

Crucial FIBA congress in Japan to tackle RP status
By Marc Anthony Reyes
The Inquirer 08-22-06

TEN MINUTES EACH.
Philippine basketball’s warring factions were given just that time to wrap up their respective positions and convince the international basketball federation (FIBA) which of them should be given official sanction.
A high-ranking Philippine Olympic Committee official yesterday told the Inquirer the FIBA had invited officials of the expelled Basketball Association of the Philippines and the POC-backed Pilipinas Basketball to attend the FIBA congress this week in Japan.

Both camps, according to the official, will be allowed two speakers each and only 10 minutes to wrap up their respective arguments during the crucial FIBA congress that coincides with the ongoing world basketball championship in Saitama.

“We are preparing for that make-or-break meeting,” said the official of the local Olympic body, which has decided to assist Pilipinas Basketball obtain official FIBA recognition.

Despite the limited time, the POC official said they are not complaining, as long as they are given a chance to present their side.

The BAP, headed by former senator Joey Lina, is optimistic that his group will regain the FIBA nod, a year after the POC booted it out.
FIBA reacted to the expulsion by suspending the country’s participation in all tournaments of the world cage body.

Pilipinas Basketball is set to hold its elections today in keeping with the FIBA recommendation to strengthen its structure as the true representative of the major basketball stakeholders in the country.

-----------------------------------------
--------------Official pictogram for the basketball event in Beijing Olympics 2008

And so they unite!

Pact signed to unite RP basketball
The Manila Bulletin 08-29-2006

PILIPINAS BASKETBALL (PB) and the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP), in a joint communiqué, have agreed to merge and unite following a meeting brokered by the World Basketball Federation (FIBA) in Tokyo, Japan.

The breakthrough agreement, signed by PB President Bernie Atienza and BAP head Joey Lina last night, could pave the way for the country’s participation in the 15th Asian Games in Doha, Qatar in December.

Under the plan, hammered out after two FIBA-initiated meetings, the two groups agreed to form a three-man panel within five days. It will be composed of Atienza and Lina and a third person to be agreed upon by the two leaders.The merger of the two basketball entities shall result into a single united basketball organization that will seek membership with the Philippine Olympic Committee and will eventually takeover the membership of the BAP in the FIBA subject to appropriate FIBA regulations on membership.

The panel will be given 30 days starting Sept. 1 to complete the following tasks:

1. To write and finalize the organization’s constitution and by-laws based on: a) Democratic, country-wide and mass-based representation of the various sectors of the country involved in basketball; b) Transparency and accountability of official acts; and c) Regular election of officers.

2. To review, verify and validate the list of members submitted by PB and BAP to the FIBA Central Board Special Commission created to hear the Philippine case based on the agreed set of criteria for membership formulated by the three-man panel; and

3. To convene the National Congress of the united organization and to oversee the election of officers.The FIBA secretary-general has been requested to send communications to both BAP and PB, although the BAP will continue to represent the Philippines as FIBA member.

To ensure that the agreement would be adhered to, the FIBA central board has been asked to appoint a responsible FIBA officer to monitor compliance.The three-man panel, which the third member shall head, will regularly report to the office of the FIBA secretary-general developments pertaining to this communiqué.Both the PB and BAP have agreed to observe transparency, good faith and genuine love for basketball in implementing the communique signed at the Tokyo Prince Hotel Park Hotel in Tokyo, Japan.

Signing the communiqué as witnesses were PBA Commissioner Noli Eala, BAP chairman Michelle Lhuillier, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) vice-president Rep. Monico Puentevella and FIBA secretary-general Patrick Baumann.It is expected that the country’s suspension from FIBA-sanctioned events would be lifted once the unification process ends.

The joint communiqué came about following a second meeting last night between officials of Philippine Basketball and BAP.

A three-hour meeting last Sunday ended in stalemate, prompting the FIBA to call another round of negotiations.The BAP was represented by Lina, Lhuillier, secretary-general Graham Lim and Raul Alcoseba.

Pilipinas Basketball, on the other hand, was composed of Atienza and Eala.The POC was represented by Puentevella, legal counsel Ding Tanjuatco and lawyer Ramon Molinao.

MVP as the third man for the 3-Man Panel

MVP’ is third man for panel
The Manila Times 09-03-2006

LOCAL basketball leaders on Saturday got an “MVP” to work for them as a third man. Manuel V. Pangilinan, the tycoon and sports patron, has agreed to work with the Basketball Association of the Philippines and Pilipinas Basketball on a three-man panel that would unite the two organizations, both bodies announced in a joint statement.

BAP president Jose Lina Jr. and PB chief Bernie Atienza said Pangilinan, 60, accepted their invitation to lead them on a three-man panel that will write and finalize the constitution of a “single united basketball organization.”

The basketball chiefs said they met with Pangilinan at 2:45 p.m. yesterday at his office, and “agreed to immediately buckle down to work and aim to finish the panel’s task ahead of the September 30 self-imposed deadline.”

They also set an early Monday meeting to start writing the constitution and bylaws of the united organization. The new body will then seek membership with the Philippine Olympic Committee and eventually take over the BAP’s spot in the International Basketball Federation, subject to the FIBA’s membership rules.

“We congratulate and commend Mr. Pangilinan for his unselfish commitment to the cause of Philippine basketball,” said Lina and Atienza, who agreed to unite their groups in a deal brokered by the FIBA after a meeting Monday in Tokyo, Japan.

FIBA suspended the country from competing in international events in June last year after the POC expelled the BAP from its membership. The RP Olympic body later backed an effort by the Philippine Basketball Federation, headed by Mauricio Martelino Jr., to replace the 60-year-old BAP now led by Lina.

The world governing body, however, denied membership to the PBF. Instead, FIBA instructed the BAP, PB and POC to get together so it could lift the suspension, which resulted in a joint communiqué the four bodies signed in Tokyo on Monday.

Pangilinan’s acceptance complies with one of the communiqué’s eight points that FIBA stressed needs to be fulfilled so it could lift the suspension on the Philippines. Yesterday was the deadline for the BAP and BP to find their third man.

“The communiqué was signed evening of August 28 and the five-day period ends today, September 2,” Lina and Atienza noted.

“An early compliance with the provisions of the communiqué will pave the way for the early lifting of the FIBA suspension on Philippine participation in FIBA-sanctioned basketball tournaments,” the statement ended.

Besides Pangilinan, others Lina and Atienza considered as a third panelist were former Philippine Basketball Association commissioner Rudy Salud, former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr., former senator Freddie Webb and Alaska Milk team owner Steve Uytengsu.

Pangilinan, the chief executive of the Hong Kong-based First Pacific Co. Ltd., is involved with local basketball mainly through local telecom giant PLDT, which he chairs. PLDT owns the franchise of the PBA’s Talk ’N Text team.

An Ateneo de Manila University graduate, he also supports the Blue Eagles varsity basketball squad. In the past two years, he has also financed an international badminton tournament named in his honor.

3-Man Panel started to work

3-man panel off to a good start
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
The Manila Standard 09-06-2006

THE three-man panel, headed by Philippine Long Distance and Telephone Co. chairman Manny Pangilinan, tasked with resolving the conflicts in Philippine basketball and setting up a new, unified organization acceptable to the international governing body or Fiba, is off to a good start.

A senior partner of the respected Sycip-Salazar law firm, who sat in during the initial meeting between Pangilinan, Basketball Association of the Philippines president former Senator Joey Lina and Pilipinas Basketball chief Bernie Atienza, would submit a draft constitution sometime today, which will be circulated to Lina and Atienza for study and comment.

Pangilinan’s idea of bringing in a lawyer was aimed at ensuring objectivity and a guarantee that the laws are legally durable documents.

The renowned businessman-sportsman expressed the hope that all three members of the committee could agree on the relevant documents by the weekend following their next meeting on Friday.

“That’s good, so we could be guided because Joey [Lina] is the only lawyer [in the panel],” said Atienza as he welcomed the move of Pangilinan to bring in a top-notch lawyer.

Atienza indicated that everything was going well and they didn’t have great debates anymore.

Atienza also disclosed he would not contest the accreditation of members of BAP because “they are existing.”

Thread Special feature:

Sidelights During the "Joint Communique" in Tokyo

When FIBA secretary-general Patrick Baumann met PBA commissioner Noli Eala in Seoul early this year, he advised the pro league to "stay the course" in trying to resolve the leadership problem in Philippine basketball.

Eala joined a delegation made up of POC and Pilipinas Basketball officials to convince FIBA to lift the country’s suspension in the Korean capital.

However, FIBA’s hands were tied. The hitch was FIBA recognized the BAP as its country affiliate but the BAP had been stripped of its NSA status by the POC General Assembly. In simple terms, no national team endorsed by the BAP would be accredited by the POC to represent the country but FIBA will only recognize a national team endorsed by the BAP.

The impasse left FIBA no option – the country was suspended from participating in FIBA-sanctioned tournaments until the resolution of the internal conflict.

In Tokyo a few weeks ago, Baumann and Eala crossed paths again. This time, Baumann told Eala to "nail it" after the joint communiqué was signed.

In both the Seoul and Tokyo discussions, Baumann impressed upon the Filipino delegates the importance of the PBA playing a major role in whatever Philippine organization will eventually be recognized by both the POC and FIBA.

A witness to the Tokyo proceedings said Baumann clearly manifested his respect for the PBA as the country’s No. 1 cage stakeholder and likened its role to the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the US.

"It looks like FIBA will approve whatever new Philippine organization is proposed for recognition only if the PBA is part of it," said the witness.
That’s why Baumann changed his pitch from "stay the course" to "nail it" in reference to the PBA sealing the deal that will create a new all-encompassing national governing body from the ashes of the BAP and PB. Although there is a sentimental reason for retaining the BAP as the country’s FIBA affiliate because of tradition and history, it won’t happen.

The stumbling block is legal in nature. Believe it or not, the BAP is not registered as a corporation by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) – a requirement of all NSAs before they can receive financial support from the Philippine Sports Commission – despite its 55 years of existence. And if the BAP applies for registration today, approval will not be given as another group called the Basketball Association of the Philippines, Inc. (BAPI) has beaten it to the draw.

Besides, the BAP is weighed down by a lot of baggage so the consensus is to start from scratch.

In the Tokyo meetings, a witness said several Filipino delegates stood out for their statesmanship. One was Lina who selflessly agreed to collapse the BAP for the sake of unity and the country’s best interest. Another was BAP chairman Michel Lhuillier who offered to resign his position right there and then if it would lead to hastening the resolution of the problem. Lhuillier said his only interest is to uplift the playing level of the sport in Cebu.

POC first vice president and Rep. Monico Puentevella said to prove FIBA’s sincerity in trying to get the Philippines back in good standing, the world body’s most influential officials spent a total of five hours discussing with the Filipino delegates in Tokyo.

The first meeting took three hours and the second, two. Baumann and FIBA’s secretary-general emeritus Borislav Stankovic, who still packs the biggest clout in the Swiss-based organization, attended both meetings.

Others who attended either the first or second meeting were new FIBA president Bob Elphinston, former FIBA president Carl Ching Meng-Ky and FIBA-Asia secretary-general Dato Yeoh Choo Hock.

In reaching out to the Filipino officials, Dato Yeoh invited Atienza to bring the St. Benilde varsity or an NCAA selection to play exhibition games in Kuala Lumpur with the Malaysian Basketball Association as host.

667 days more to our team's quest----->

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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Pressure mounts for MVP

Pressure mounts on MVP to accept SBP presidency
By Ding Marcelo, Manila Bulletin
September 27, 2006

With the deadline set by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) three days away, pressure is mounting on telecoms tycoon Manny Pangilinan to reconsider his decision turning down an offer to become president of a unified basketball association.

"We are trying to convince him to head the association because he is the only one who can serve as president without resistance from any faction," said a source who requested anonymity because negotiations are still in a delicate stage.

The source said Pangilinan had been briefed about the volatile situation within the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas (SBP) where a 24-man board is split down the middle with 12 representatives each from the Basketball Association of the Philippines and Pilipinas Basketball.

Though both organizations claim that they have put their differences behind, tension and distrust remain palpable and this can be gleaned from the fact that until now the two sides can't agree on another common candidate for president.

Pangilinan is the 25th member of the board and he was earlier tipped to become its first president.

But the businessman who heads the mighty PLDT and Smart Communications empires, has opted out saying he does not have the time to solve the myriad problems besetting this sport.

Pangilinan has preferred staying in the background although he has a high-profile involvement with newly-crowned NCAA champions San Beda Red Lions and the Ateneo Blue Eagles who are currently competing in a championship series against University of Santo Tomas in the UAAP.

He reportedly bankrolls both teams.

"At this stage, we are confident that he will reconsider," said the source whose group had told the tycoon that without him at the top of the organization, all the efforts at unifying Philippine basketball may go down the drain.

"He's thinking about it," the source said, adding that Pangilinan had been assured that he need not be at the office of the basketball association everyday.

"We told him he can assign someone to do that for him, of course, " the source continued.

Meanwhile, Pangilinan is planning to write the FIBA to extend the deadline for another week as the election of officers of the SBP suffered a snag.

FIBA has set Sept. 30 as the deadline to form the organization which must have a set of officers and recognition from the Philippine Olympic Committee.

The POC is holding its general meeting today but the SBP recognition is not in today's agenda.

A POC source said that since the SBP has not yet completed its roster, Pilipinas Basketball will attend the meeting to represent basketball.

MVP finally accepts chairmanship

MVP takes over ‘Samahan’
By Frank Calapre, Correspondent
The Manila Times 09-28-2006

MANNY PANGILINAN on Wednesday yielded to the wishes of the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas board to become its “transition” president, boosting the new basketball group’s chances of Philippine Olympic Committee recognition.

The sportsman and tycoon’s decision to accept the SBP leadership also could hasten the lifting of the country’s suspension by the International Basketball Federation or FIBA, the world governing basketball body.

“I am prepared to assume the position of chairman and president of the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas in a concurrent capacity provided I have the support of both Pilipinas Basketball and the Basketball Association of the Philippines in forming the management team,” Pangilinan said in a press statement.

POC president Jose Cojuangco welcomed the latest development, saying that “MVP” was the best man for the job.

“It should be Mr. Pangilinan, who has the management expertise and resources to put both the BAP and the PB together,” said Cojuangco, who presided over the monthly POC general assembly meeting at the Milky Way in Makati City.

Cojuangco said that with Pangilinan at the helm, the SBPI will surely gain POC recognition.

“If it is him, I think there will be no problem. I was hoping for it because someone like him has no personal agenda,” Cojuangco added.

The Philippines’ suspension by FIBA from international competitions began in July last year, shortly after the POC withdrew its recognition of the BAP as the national sports association for basketball in the country.

Pangilinan, chairman and president of both PLDT and Smart Communications, headed the three-man panel tasked to unite the BAP and PB as the cornerstone of the 8-point agreement local basketball leaders forged with the FIBA in Tokyo, Japan, on August 28.

The other members of the panel are BAP president Joey Lina and PB head Bernie Atienza, the chairman of the management committee of the 82nd National Collegiate Athletics Association season.

“After three weeks of work, the 3-man panel has reached the closing stage of finality by forging unity for Philippine basketball. For this, I am indeed grateful for the cooperation and contribution of Joey Lina and Bernie Atienza and their respective memberships,” Pangilinan said.

The 60-year-old businessman is expected to call a National Congress before the Saturday deadline set by the FIBA.

“In reaching the stage of finality, the 3-man panel has consulted the various sectors and stakeholders in search for the elements that should cause the unification of RP basketball under SBPI. Now that the elements are in place, it is now time to make that unity happen,” he said.

“We are giving Mr. Pangilinan a free hand to choose the other officials who will work with him,” Atienza said in a separate interview.

They already got medals LONG LONG LONG AGO...

Now, I dont know if it is gonna happen again...

25-man board of trustees as SBP officials

SBP officials to come from 25-man board
Inquirer 09/19/2006

THE OFFICERS of the new cage body Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) will come from the members of the 25-man board of trustees chosen by the three-man panel headed by Smart Communications/PLDT head Manny V. Pangilinan.

The election has yet to be set even as the national congress scheduled this Saturday will push through. Pangilinan, who presided over a press conference yesterday at the Manila Hotel, announced that the constitution and by-laws of the new association had been sent to the Securities and Exchange Commission for approval.

“I express my gratitude to Joey (Lina) and Bernie (Atienza) for a job well done and for their commitment. All throughout the course of the past week, democracy was put into work and both of them acted as true gentlemen,” said Pangilinan.

Lina, president of the Basketball Association of the Philippines, and Atienza, head of Pilipinas Basketball, are the other members of the three-man panel that drafted the new constitution and bylaws.

Aside from Pangilinan, Atienza and Lina, other signatories to the Articles of Constitution and by-laws and interim incorporators are Philippine Basketball Association chair Ricky Vargas as treasurer and BAP chair Michel Lhuillier.

Atienza had earlier endorsed Pangilinan, who took care of the P1 million SEC registration fee, to serve as the founding president of the SBP, but MVP declined, saying he does not have the time needed for the job.

But he promised to continue supporting the association, which hopes to get the approval of the Philippine Olympic Committee once it is approved by the SEC.

The 25-man board of trustees, composed of 12 BAP and PB officials each, along with Pangilinan, will elect a chair, vice chair, president, executive director, secretary and treasurer who will hold four-year terms.

Lina said he has informed FIBA secretary general Patrick Baumann of the development and he expects the international basketball federation to lift its suspension even before the Sept. 30 deadline it has set.

Pangilinan said that he already informed POC president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco of the creation of the new charter and that the POC chief gave a favorable feedback.

Atienza, also the NCAA management committee chair, said they’re expecting SEC to approve the articles of constitution and by-laws on Thursday.

Lina, who is also being eyed to lead the new group, added: “Filipino basketball fans have reason to celebrate. For the past year we’ve been struggling since FIBA suspended us. We hope that the suspension will be lifted as earlier as the Sept. 30 self-imposed deadline.” Marc Anthony Reyes

Cage body gets SEC nod

Cage body gets SEC nod; congress rescheduled
By Francis Ochoa, Marc Anthony Reyes
Inquirer

OPTIMISTIC that a unified basketball federation will move forward despite the obstacles that have hit the newly formed association, the Philippine Basketball Association will reassemble the national pool in January to prepare for several international meets.

This developed as the new group, known as the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP, Basketball Association of the Philippines), rescheduled a national congress that had been slated Wednesday, a move seen as a minor setback in its bid to regain recognition from the international basketball federation (FIBA).

“We will regroup the national pool by January so we can pursue our commitments to the national squad,” said PBA commissioner Noli Eala Monday, adding that he doesn’t see the postponement of the congress as a hindrance to the group’s bid to gain Fiba recognition.

“At the very least, the group will be able to show the FIBA that a new association has been formed and the major stakeholders of basketball in the country are part of it,” said Eala.

The rescheduling of the congress leaves the SBP without a set of officers, five days before the September 30 deadline set by the FIBA.

The SBP gained a major point Monday when it was granted a Securities and Exchange Commission registration after it submitted its constitution and by-laws there.

“It’s a major step for SBP as we seek POC recognition,” said BAP president Joey Lina, who remained confident the new basketball group will meet its self-imposed deadline.

Membership issues caused failure to beat FIBA deadline

Membership issues hound fragile SBP
By Marc Anthony Reyes
Inquirer 10/01/2006

THERE is still no date yet for its first national congress. The list of members is taking so long to get verified and validated. And its Sept. 30 self-imposed deadline just lapsed.

Signs that the young and fragile Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas is not out of the woods yet.

A day after it vowed to complete the requirements needed for its reinstatement by the Fiba (international basketball federation), there is still no specific date yet for the holding of the national congress and elections.

Instead, the three-man panel composed of the leaders of the Basketball Association of the Philippines and Pilipinas Basketball and telecommunications tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan agreed to have a “transitory period’’ effective yesterday until April 2008.

This, according to SBP, will give them enough time to sort out sticky membership issues of the
two rival associations.

Sources said the bone of contention is the uneven number of clubs affiliated between the established BAP and the fledgling PB.

PB reportedly has 21 member clubs, while BAP has 61, which is already being questioned by no less than the Philippine Olympic Committee, which has yet to accept the SBP into its fold.

A ranking POC official said they wanted to make sure the BAP roster of candidate members have complied with the three major items in the SBP constitution—at least two years of existence, they must conduct tournaments at least three months in a year and must have at least six member teams.

The same official said that if the BAP indeed has 61 member clubs, there should have been a big number of tournaments or leagues around the country.

Meanwhile, panel has decided that the board of trustees composed of Pangilinan and the 24 board members run the affairs of basketball in the meantime.

Since the members of each factions “will take some time to be verified and validated,” a transitory period must be in effect, according to PB president Bernie Atienza.

Lina pushes for SBP National Congress

Lina: Let’s elect our officers
By Edwin Rollon

FORMER senator and Basketball Association of the Philippines president Joey Lina said he is batting for the convening of the national congress that will elect the set of officers for the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas Inc.—no more, no less.

Lina, likewise, rejected the statement of Ricky Vargas, a close associate of PLDT and Smart chief Manny Pangilinan, that the former BAP chief is out to sow confusion within the association, but instead stressed that the election would definitely end the leadership crisis and put order in the association.

“We in the BAP have no intention to create animosity within the unified basketball association. But we insist that we push through with the national congress to elect the new set of officers, that’s all. Masama ba ’yun? Ito naman ang dapat nating gawin dahil ito ang hinihingi ng Fiba [international basketball federation],” said Lina.

Lina said the Fiba is “waiting for us to submit the list of officers for the new basketball association that will represent the Philippines in international tournaments.”

According to Lina, the joint communiqué signed by both the BAP and Pilipinas Basketball representatives and Fiba secretary-general Patrick Baumann specifically asked for an election of officers.

“Paanong maaalis ang ban sa atin kung wala pa tayong maipakitang resulta sa Fiba?” asked Lina.

The Fiba gave the Philippines 30 days to form the by-laws and constitution and form a new basketball association that will replace the BAP.
But Lina said he had already asked Fiba for an extension.

“We’re running out of time. Hindi natin maipagpapatuloy ang reform sa basketball kung patuloy tayong banned sa Fiba. That’s why we’re urging our fellow sports leaders to push through with the national congress convention so we can now elect the set of officers,” said Lina.

Lina added that he has nothing against Pangilinan leading the SBP, but it’s better to put things in order through an election.

“Kaya nga tayo nagbuo ng board of trustees. Kung walang election, dapat sa simula pa lang nagturuan na lang tayo sa pagbuo nang asosasyon, saka na lang tayo kumuha ng mga miyembro,” Lina said.

In a press conference last Sunday, Vargas scored the BAP, particularly Lina, for insisting for a national congress instead of supporting Pangilinan to lead the SBP as “interim chairman.”

But Lina was quick to say that he, too, supports Pangilinan but an election should be held to avoid “negative reactions” from basketball stakeholders and the international community as well.