RP 5 to Doha despite suspension?

There is a slim chance that the Philippines will be allowed to play basketball in the Doha Asian Games late this year despite the country’s suspension by the Federation Internationale de Basketball (FIBA) because the event is under the supervision of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), an adjunct of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose Cojuangco Jr. has instructed secretary-general Steve Hontiveros to check with the OCA on the possibility even as he urged Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) president Joey Lina to heed the clamor of the majority and join Pilipinas Basketball as the final step to lift the country’s suspension.

In two meetings with Cojuangco and other POC officials in Seoul last Tuesday, FIBA secretary-general Patrick Baumann said the suspension will be automatically lifted once Lina agrees to join the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), the Philippine Basketball League (PBL), the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in Pilipinas Basketball.

Cojuangco was assured by IOC president Dr. Jacques Rogge of support in accrediting Philippine basketball teams to play in Olympic qualifying competitions during a private 45-minute session at the COEX Intercontinental Hotel in Seoul last Tuesday.

Rogge assigned Olympic Solidarity director Pere Miro to coordinate the POC’s efforts in trying to lift the country’s suspension.

But it is unlikely that the Philippines will be allowed to send a basketball team to Doha without FIBA’s approval because the games will be supervised by FIBA officials.

PBA commissioner Noli Eala said he doubts if the Philippines can play if the suspension is still in force. However, he mentioned the Philippines could play in the Jones Cup in Taipei because it is not a FIBA-sanctioned tournament.

The PBA received an invitation last March 29 from Chinese Taipei Basketball Association president Wan Jen Tar to field a team in the Jones Cup on July 8-16.

"We understand that PBA could send us a very good team, therefore, we will not be in contact with the BAP in any way regarding this tournament," wrote Wan.

UAAP Board of Trustees member Jose Capistrano said the Asean University Games will be held in Vietnam in December and he will inquire if FIBA sanction is required for a Philippine entry in basketball.

Without support from the four major stakeholders, the BAP will not be able to harness the services of the country’s best players for any team it intends to accredit. Another problem is because it has been expelled by the POC, the BAP is not able to get financial assistance from the Philippine Sports Commission.

PBL commissioner Chino Trinidad said he anticipates a long and tedious process in lifting the country’s suspension if Lina maintains a hard line against Pilipinas Basketball. But he said there were positive signs from the recent Seoul meetings with Baumann, FIBA secretary-general emeritus Borislav Stankovic and incoming FIBA president Bob Elphinston.

Trinidad likened the process to a basketball game where only the first quarter has finished.

POC legal counsel Egmidio Tanjuatco said Baumann’s decision to indefinitely extend the March 31 deadline to get Pilipinas Basketball on track for accreditation by FIBA was an encouraging signal.

"The indefinite extension surely was not a sign of rejection," said Tanjuatco. "Our meetings in Seoul were just an opening. We never expected an immediate decision. We made a lot of headway in this trip because firstly, we got the 100 percent support of the IOC through Dr. Rogge and secondly, Mr. Baumann was able to meet the major stakeholders and learn where they’re coming from. We’ve strengthened our foundations."

Baumann repeatedly told Eala in Seoul to "stay the course," indicating his recognition of the pro league as a key factor in finding a permanent solution to the problem.

Eala previously said the PBA would no longer lend players to the national team if Pilipinas Basketball, or the National Sports Association endorsed by the POC, is not in charge of the program. The statement meant the PBA has withdrawn its commitment to a Memorandum of Agreement to support national teams sanctioned by the BAP.

Meanwhile, POC first vice president Rep. Monico Puentevella filed a resolution in Congress the other day expressing appreciation for Dr. Rogge’s "unconditional support and assistance to the POC and Pilipinas Basketball in resolving the Philippines’ suspension by FIBA."

Puentevella said: "The IOC president is very well-versed with the issue and has in fact stressed that the IOC takes precedence over an International Sports Federation on matters involving Olympic qualifying competitions and that the IOC is 100 percent behind the efforts of the POC in lifting the country’s suspension by FIBA."