BAP, PBA come to terms

Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) secretary general Graham Lim said yesterday the way is clear for the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) to represent the country at the 14th Asian Games in Pusan, South Korea, on Sept. 28-Oct. 14 next year.

BAP and PBA officials began meeting two weeks ago to draft a Memorandum of Agreement stipulating their roles in forming the national team for the coming Asiad. After a series of discussions, Lim said the BAP has accepted the "basic elements" of an agreement proposed by the PBA.

PBA Commissioner Emilio Bernardino reported to the league’s Board of Governors the progress of the discussions last Oct. 29 after which he sent a letter to the BAP the next day, outlining the terms of reference in the proposed agreement.

Lim replied to Bernardino in a formal letter yesterday, accepting the "basic elements" with "slight modifications."

In Lim’s reply, he confirmed that the BAP will be the appointing and accrediting authority for the national team’s participation in the Asian Games and tasked the PBA "with the sole responsibility and authority to form, prepare, train and raise the necessary funds for … the preparation and training, leading to the actual participation of the … team to the Asian Games."

Both organizations agreed that the PBA will not enter into a sponsorship contract that may conflict with what the Philippine Olympic Committee or the BAP may negotiate for the national delegation. Specific sponsorship contracts will apply to the basketball team only during its training period or up to Sept. 27.

The BAP also agreed to leave the selection of the national coach to the PBA but will appoint an assistant coach. The BAP and PBA will make a joint public announcement on the composition of the coaching staff.

Additionally, the PBA will cede the allowances allocated by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) for the national team to the BAP "in favor of the youth (men) basketball team and BAP program."

Lim estimated the allowances to amount to a total of P700,000 for the five-month period leading and up to the end of the Asian Games.

The PBA will provide the funds while the BAP will take charge of the necessary accreditation of the basketball delegation. There will be 17 official members of the delegation to include 12 players, a referee, three members of the coaching staff, and the team manager who is expected to be BAP president Quintelliano (Tiny) Literal. The BAP will also work for the accreditation of two PBA officials, two BAP officials, a doctor, a trainer, and three members of the support staff. In all, the delegation will comprise 26 persons.

Lim told The Star that the PBA spent P16 Million to train the national team for the Bangkok Asian Games in 1998 and another P6 Million during the actual competitions. Included in the expenses were the costs of traveling, accommodations, and training in the US. He said the national coach will decide if the team will play tune-up games abroad or compete in tournaments like the Jones Cup.

Earlier, the BAP asked the PBA to contribute a sum for its development program, commit to play in the Jones Cup next year, and participate in a BAP-sponsored, one-week tournament with foreign teams invited from Asian countries next year.

But PBA executive director Sonny Barrios asked the BAP to set aside issues for discussions unrelated to the Asian Games so that the urgent matter of the national team is primarily addressed. — Joaquin Henson