Big leagues offer to form super team

With the FIBA suspension on the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) hopefully to be lifted soon, BAP presidency claimant Gonzalo "Lito" Puyat yesterday expressed confidence that the country can still form a winning team for the 21st Southeast Asian Games scheduled Sept. 8 to 17 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Puyat mentioned two possibilities that can help the country retain the men’s title in the SEA Games. One is the sending of an intact PBA team like San Miguel Beer or Red Bull, and the second is the formation of a selection made up of PBA, PBL and MBA players.

Under the second option, the PBA and the MBA will field five players each with two players coming from the PBL. In fact, the leaders of the three leagues met yesterday afternoon regarding this possibility.

Attending the meeting were PBA commissioner Jun Bernardino, MBA commissioner Ogie Narvasa and Tommy Ong, the PBL marketing manager who stepped in for commissioner Chino Trinidad who was reportedly out of town.

"If these leagues really want to help, I’m sure they can. In the case of the PBA, I think they can call for an emergency board meeting to tackle this issue," said Puyat. "In fact, we have prepared a letter addressed to the PBA board regarding this."

"While we are waiting for a solution to this so-called BAP mess, we deemed it best to offer this option to the Philippine Olympic Committee. We will turn over to the POC the team that would be formed for the SEA Games," said Bernardino.

"We are behind it, 101 percent. We have agreed with the other major leagues to support it financially or in whatever form," said Narvasa.

On the sending of an intact PBA team, both San Miguel and Red Bull have expressed willingness to don the national colors in the biennial meet despite the fact that the SEA Games might go against the Governors’ Cup schedule starting on Sept. 8 or 9.

Red Bull team owner George Chua said it would be a great honor for his team, now enjoying a decisive 2-0 lead over San Miguel in the best-of-seven Commissioner’s Cup final, to play in the SEA Games where the Philippines remains unbeaten since 1991.

"Anytime the country needs our team, we’re ready. But I think San Miguel, being this year’s All-Filipino champion, remains as the number one option. But if it doesn’t push through, then Red Bull is ready," said Chua.

The formation of the national team moved on top of the negotiating table after the other BAP faction led by Quintellano "Tiny" Literal has reportedly agreed to have the FIBA settle the long-standing dispute in time for the SEA Games.

Puyat, however, said Literal has yet to sign the letter of agreement that has long been prepared in order for the FIBA to lift the suspension. "He has not signed it as of now and what he’s done is write the FIBA to lift the suspension and recognize his group," he said.

Instead of seeking the lifting of the suspension, said Puyat, it could have been better if Literal simply asked the FIBA to come over sooner than Sept. 1 to have the issue finally settled and pave the way for the country’s SEA Games stint.