Shameful no-show for RP cagers

If you really want to know why the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) has overstayed its welcome as the country’s National Sports Association (NSA) for the game that Filipinos love with a passion, just check how the national team has performed in the FIBA (Federation Internationale de Basketball)-Asia Championships in the last 12 years.

Note that the BAP was responsible for forming and sending the national team to the FIBA-Asia (formerly known as the Asian Basketball Confederation) Championships during those forgettable dozen years. The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) agreed to lend its pros to the national team only for the Asian Games, starting in 1990 in Beijing.

The records will show that the Philippines has failed to even make it to the quarterfinals of the biennial competition since managing a seventh place finish in 1991.

Let’s review the history.

In 1993, the Philippines wound up 11th with Rogelio Melencio as coach. The team was composed of Kenneth Duremdes, Rey Evangelista, Rudolf Belmonte, Rene Cabaluna, Jess Bardaje, Peter Naron, Patrick Fran, Dennis Espino, E. J. Feihl, Siot Tanquingcen and Edmund Reyes. China beat North Korea, 93-72, in the finals in Jakarta.

In 1995, the Philippines slid to 12th spot with coach Arlene Rodriguez. The team included Tanquingcen, Rodney Santos and Fran. China took its fifth straight title in Seoul.

In 1997, the Philippines improved to ninth place but it still wasn’t enough to break into the quarters. Coach Dong Vergeire’s lineup listed Romel Adducul, Ato Morano, Rensy Bajar, Chris Cantonjos, Ralph Rivera, Danny Ildefonso, Glenn Peter Yap, Richard Melencio, Dino Manuel, Matt Makalintal and Gerard Francisco. South Korea claimed the championship with Japan second and China third.

In 1999, the Philippines fell to 11th with coach Vic Sanchez enlisting eight players from the Metropolitan Basketball Association club Laguna Lakers. The roster included Jovy Sese, Biboy Simon, Wynne Arboleda, Alvin Teng, Melencio, Dondon

Hontiveros, Bong Ravena, Gido Babilonia, Melvin Taguines and Cris Bade. The Filipinos were able to beat only Thailand, 82-58, and Bahrain, 83-75. Their four losses to South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon and Uzbekistan were by an average margin of 22 points.

In 2001, the Philippines was disqualified from participating in the 21st FIBA-Asia Championships in Shanghai. FIBA suspended the Philippines because of the shameful leadership struggle in the BAP.

Two years ago, the Philippines returned to the FIBA-Asia Championships with a whimper in Harbin. Coach Aric del Rosario piloted the national team to its worst-ever finish in the tournament’s history. The Philippines plummeted to 15th spot and escaped the cellar by posting its only win over Malaysia. Del Rosario’s players included Melencio (a BAP favorite in his third tournament appearance), Jonathan de Guzman, Romar Menor, Bitoy Omolon, Ricky Calimag, Marc Pingris, Bernzon Franco, Willy Wilson, Dennis Madrid, Emerson Oreta and Chris Nicdao.

For a country that once ruled Asian hoops, the slide to mediocrity is unforgivable.

Believe it or not, the Philippines used to lord it over Asia. In fact, the Philippines won three of the first four FIBA-Asia titles and finished among the top three in the first seven editions.

In 1973, the Philippines beat South Korea, starring legendary gunner Shin Dong Pa, to capture the crown before a wildly cheering crowd in Manila. Coach Tito Eduque’s players were Jimmy Mariano, Joy Cleofas, Rogelio Melencio, Robert Jaworski, Francis Arnaiz, Abet Guidaben, Ramon Fernandez, Bogs Adornado, Yoyong Martirez, Manny Paner, Big Boy Reynoso and Dave Regullano.

The Philippines’ last Asian title came in 1986 in Kuala Lumpur via a six-game sweep. Coach Ron Jacobs masterfully guided the national team to rousing wins over South Korea, 76-72, and China, 82-72. His players were Allan Caidic, Samboy Lim, Hector Calma, Franz Pumaren, Pido Jarencio, Jerry Codiñera, Alfie Almario, Tonichi Yturri, Elmer Reyes, Yves Dignadice, Dennis Still and Jeff Moore.

This year, the Philippines was once again banned from playing in the FIBA-Asia joust because of internal political problems-its second disqualification in the last three championships, an alarming development.

The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), through its General Assembly, has tried to remedy the problem by getting rid of the BAP whose deep-seeded problems seem impossible to straighten out. The BAP was expelled from the POC rolls after reneging on a commitment to the POC regarding the formation of the national team for the Southeast Asian Basketball Association championships last July. The POC subsequently recognized the Philippine Basketball Federation as the country’s new NSA for caging.

FIBA, however, has withheld taking away the BAP’s status as its country affiliate, explaining that it is upholding the status quo and maintaining the suspension until the opposing parties settle their differences.

Neither the BAP nor the POC is willing to give in to the other. Without recognition from the POC and support from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), the BAP has nothing to lean on except FIBA’s backing, which will likely be withdrawn once FIBA appreciates the BAP’s untenable situation.

FIBA must understand that the BAP is now a lameduck organization and will never be able to contribute meaningfully to the progress of basketball unless it has the support of both the POC and the PSC.

Meanwhile, the Philippines is an embarrassing no-show at the FIBA-Asia Championships now in progress in Doha, Qatar.

Here’s a report from Qatar on the Philippines’ disappearing act:

"The most popular sport in the Philippines is basketball. The names of the NBA superstars are familiar even to housewives in the Philippines. The Philippine Basketball Association is hugely popular. Why, even in Qatar, the Filipino expatriates living here have their own basketball tournament-the Philippine Basketball League of Qatar which is a popular tournament. However, the absence of their national team in the ongoing 23rd Asian championships is a big disappointment for the Filipino fans here.

"The Philippine national team could not take part in the championships as a result of a FIBA ban imposed on the country following the expulsion of the BAP by the POC.

"It’s a big disappointment for us," said Nestor, a Filipino basketball fan in Doha yesterday. "I hope our basketball federation officials will settle the issue soon so that our national team could take part in all the official tournaments."

"We wanted our team to be here in Qatar," said another Filipino, Edgar. "It would have been great to see our team play against Asia’s best."

What’s even more saddening is the realization that the Philippines could’ve easily barged into the semifinals in Doha, judging from its recent performance in Las Vegas, Taipei and Brunei. Remember that in the Jones Cup last July, the Philippines whipped Qatar, 82-71, with only 10 players and Ren-Ren Ritualo not in the lineup. And Qatar qualified for the semis in Doha.

The POC has done something drastic to bring Philippine basketball back on track internationally and avoid more embarrassing no-shows. FIBA must appreciate that the POC’s uncompromising position can only be for the good of Philippine basketball in the long haul.