Stab in the back

TOKYO – Losing to Lebanon in the bid to host next year’s FIBA Asia Championships was a shock, to say the least. There couldn’t have been a better offer than the Philippines’ and from early indications, it didn’t seem like any country would pose a serious challenge – or so FIBA Asia secretary general Hagop Khajirian made it appear.

It’s no accident that Lebanon won the bid and Khajirian is Lebanese. Khajirian even went to Manila to inspect the MOA Arena, projected to be the primary venue for the 16-nation tournament, and assured SBP executive director Sonny Barrios that Lebanon wouldn’t make a serious play for the hosting rights. 

At the Grand Prince New Takanawa Hotel the other day, the FIBA Asia Executive Committee met to decide on the host country. The Philippines was given 15 minutes to present its bid. SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan, Barrios, SBP chairman of the regulatory and standardization committee Moying Martelino and PBA commissioner Chito Salud spoke during the presentation whose highlight was a 10-minute audio-visual. To the Philippine panel’s surprise – but certainly, not to Khajirian’s, Lebanon showed up to make its own presentation with star player Fadi El Khatib the only speaker. El Khatib appeared wearing a short-sleeved shooting shirt, denims and sneakers. His player ID stuck out from his back pocket. He was accompanied by three teammates. It was supposed to be a formal presentation but the Lebanese couldn’t care less about protocol. 

Barrios said he was told Iran also submitted a bid but with no representative appearing before the Executive Committee. He called it “a paper bid.” The speculation was the bid was not taken seriously and had no chance.

The Philippine presentation was comprehensive and thoroughly convincing. Pangilinan guaranteed the support of Meralco for power, Maynilad for water, PLDT Smart for communication links and TV5, AKTV and Cignal for nationwide coverage. Salud said the PBA would adjust its schedule so as not to conflict with the FIBA Asia games. Martelino said he would use his experience as head of the organizing committee of the 1973 FIBA Asia Championships and 1978 FIBA World Championships, both held in Manila, to make sure the tournament proceeds without a hitch. Barrios said the playing venues would be accessible within a few kilometers from the Century Park Hotel for teams, Sofitel for FIBA Asia dignitaries and Bayleaf Intramuros for referees. He detailed the logistical arrangements that would be carried out to ensure a trouble-free conduct of the competitions. After the presentation, Jae Min Lee of Korea asked about the timing of the tournament and if the PBA would free up its schedule during the games. Lee was assured there would be no conflict.

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El Khatib said he played a CD that showed Lebanon’s features as a host country. Lebanon hosted the FIBA Asia Cup two years ago and will host the FIBA Asia Champions Cup late this year. Gilas coach Chot Reyes recalled that when Beirut hosted the 2010 Champions Cup, the playing venue – Ghazir Club Court – was a two-hour bus ride away from the teams’ hotel. How can that inconvenience beat the Philippines’ accessibility? Lebanon’s history as a FIBA Asia host has been shoddy.

El Khatib said he wasn’t asked a single question by the Executive Committee after his presentation. Was the Executive Committee spellbound by the persuasive presentation? Or was a decision made even before the presentations? Was the invitation to present just a formality? Was this a stage show, a zarzuela to legitimize an illegitimate act?

The Philippines made a strong effort to show FIBA Asia the seriousness of its bid with the attendance of MVP and Salud. How could El Khatib upstage either MVP or Salud? How could a strife-torn country win a bid to host a major international tournament over the Philippines with its vast resources pledged to transform the FIBA Asia Championships into an unforgettable event?

Someone said that since Lebanon was supposed to host the 2011 tournament and the right was taken away because of lack of preparedness, Khajirian wanted a second chance. Khajirian told Barrios that if Lebanon shows the inability to host before this year ends, the Philippines will be awarded the rights automatically. But can Khajirian be trusted? Is he just fueling false hopes? Does he relish sticking a knife in the Philippines’ back?

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FIBA secretary-general Patrick Baumann flew in all the way from Switzerland to witness the FIBA Asia Cup proceedings and attended the Executive Committee meeting. Asked if it was a close vote, Baumann said, “This is never a simple thing but there can only be one.” He said if the decision was easy to make, the Committee wouldn’t have deliberated for over an hour and ended the meeting close to dinnertime. 

SEABA president Erick Thohir of Indonesia was present at the meeting as an Executive Committee member. He said the Philippine presentation was impressive but hinted that the consideration went beyond the details of the bid. “There’s politics involved,” he said. Thohir didn’t elaborate but it was obvious that FIBA Asia decides on issues not strictly according to merit. It must be pointed out that the Philippines is not represented in the Executive Committee or in SEABA. For a country with such a passion for basketball, why is FIBA Asia ignoring the Philippines? Why is the Philippines in the FIBA Asia doghouse? What will it take for FIBA Asia to embrace the Philippines with the same warmth as Lebanon, China or Japan?  

Barrios said he was very disappointed with the decision. Martelino admitted he was shocked. SBP vice chairman Ricky Vargas said “the politics is unbelievable.” Salud said the presentation couldn’t be topped and portrayed the Philippines as a basketball-loving nation eager to stage the FIBA Asia Championships which the country last hosted in 1973. He, too, was stunned by the verdict.

What made the decision even more painful is the possibility that next year’s FIBA Asia Championships could be the last zonal qualifier for the FIBA World Cup. FIBA is considering to reformat the World Cup into a FIFA-style World Cup with the qualifying eliminations a home-and-away series to be held on the third year after the Olympics for 32 teams. The new system could be implemented in 2019 making the 2014 FIBA World Cup the last under the format of 24 teams qualifying through zonal tournaments such as the FIBA Asia Championships. The new system could also determine which countries will play in the Olympics the year after.