POC stands by SBP in FIBA row

MANILA, Philippines – POC spokesman Joey Romasanta said yesterday the country’s Olympic organization fully supports the SBP as the duly-recognized National Sports Association (NSA) for basketball and saw no reason to doubt its backing by FIBA.

Romasanta said whether or not the SBP will accept the invitation to attend a FIBA special commission meeting in Geneva on July 20-22 is an internal matter and the POC has no involvement in the decision process. The meeting has been set to discuss compliance of the Bangkok Agreement which was forged two years ago to instill peace and unity in Philippine basketball, long ravaged by political turf wars.

POC president Jose Cojuangco Jr. is in Singapore and was not available for comment. He returns to Manila on Thursday. But Romasanta said before leaving, Cojuangco met with key SBP officers and assured them of the POC’s unconditional backing.

“I don’t think it will come down to another suspension by FIBA,” said Romasanta. “There is definitely no basis for another suspension as the SBP is doing a heckuva job. We are informed that a POC official signed a letter to FIBA in his capacity as a POC official in behalf of the BAP, the former NSA for basketball. We wish to make clear that the letter had no POC authority. The official signed the letter in his personal capacity.”

For the POC to recognize an organization other than the SBP as the NSA for basketball, there has to be cause for removal and a 2/3 vote of the General Assembly to install a replacement. The POC, in fact, followed that procedure in stripping the BAP of recognition and bestowing NSA status on the SBP.

The BAP has persistently bombarded FIBA with reports of alleged discord in Philippine basketball in an effort to regain its foothold but the SBP said it is the handiwork of disgruntled individuals with dubious motives.

To allay FIBA’s fears of a possible crisis situation, POC chairman Rep. Monico Puentevella called for a moratorium “as there seems to be a lot of speculative remarks that make the problem more complex and complicated.”

Puentevella said it’s unfortunate that certain unscrupulous individuals are trying to discredit the SBP for a selfish agenda.

“Some people are enjoying and capitalizing on this problem that keeps coming back,” said Puentevella referring to the leadership issue. “Let’s find out first what’s the real score – what and who’s the problem. I’d rather see Philippine basketball run like hell by Filipinos than heaven by foreigners.”

Puentevella referred to a high-profile BAP official, seeking to be reinstated to a position of prominence by FIBA, who has been issued a deportation order for being an overstaying alien with no proper residence papers.

Puentevella said there is no doubt the SBP has put Philippine basketball back on track in its mission to regain its once lofty position as an Asian power in only two years of existence.

“The SBP has restored the respect and prestige Philippine basketball has lost for sometime especially in the international arena,” said Puentevella. “Aside from joining the qualification for world and Olympic qualifying rounds, it’s also implementing a genuine grassroots program in the provinces and is even thinking of bidding to host the 2011 FIBA-Asia Championships.”

Puentevella justified the SBP’s concern about attending the Geneva meeting without knowing the terms of reference.

“We cannot blame the SBP for requesting the rules of the game before going to Geneva because the SBP has been doing what FIBA asked for in the last two years since (FIBA secretary-general) Mr. Patrick Baumann came to Manila,” said Puentevella. “Has the SBP done anything contrary? Since its formation, the SBP has spent millions to restore our credibility in joining international qualifying tournaments.”

Puentevella said by now, the SBP has become used to surviving storms.

“We’ve been in this situation before,” he said. “FIBA must first lay down the basis why a special commission has been formed just for the Philippines.”

Puentevella said in his capacity as POC chairman, he sent an urgent e-mail to Baumann a few days ago to express his sentiments about the unclear nature of the FIBA special commission.

Meanwhile, an SBP official said IOC senior member Frank Elizalde’s suggestion for the FIBA special committee to meet in Manila to “investigate” the leadership issue makes perfect sense.

“If only to ascertain the truth and gather the relevant evidence for the Geneva meeting in July, why doesn’t FIBA send a fact-finding team here first, headed by their lawyer (Ken Madsen) who is also a member of the special commission?” said the SBP official. “Then, we’d have a more informed and rational meeting.”