INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines – Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny V. Pangilinan has questioned the decision of the International Basketball Federation or Fiba forming a special commission to mediate between SBP and the old Basketball Association of the Philippines.

A year after granting recognition to the Philippines, the International Basketball Federation or Fiba has formed a special commission that threatens to revoke the blessings it bestowed on SBP.

The Fiba, through secretary-general Patrick Baumann, has summoned Pangilinan and SBP chair Oscar Moreno along with BAP president Prospero Pitchay Jr. and chair Luis Villafuerte to attend a meeting in Geneva on July 20 to resolve the dispute.

Pangilinan, often referred to by his initials MVP, was piqued by the Fiba summon, saying the world governing body for the sport failed to rationally explain the reasons for calling the meeting.

“What are the charges? Our program is not perfect but I don’t see any reason why they should bring us to court,” said Pangilinan during the press conference Wednesday at the PLDT offices.

“It’s clear in the May 13 (2008) letter that the Fiba will not recognize the BAP at all. Then all of a sudden, here comes a letter informing us about the formation of a commission,’’ added Pangilinan.

But above all concerns, the PLDT big boss has been worried sick on the repercussions it could bring to the PBA-backed Powerade Team Pilipinas, which will see action in the Fiba-Asia Championships on Aug. 6-16 in Tianjin, China.

“This is a major concern. It’s a threat that if the SBP don’t bend to the wishes of the Fiba, the Philippines will be suspended and eventually, the team will not be allowed to play,’’ said Pangilinan.

“I think it’s unfair not only to the team but to the country as well.’’
Coached by Joseller ``Yeng’’ Guiao, Powerade Team Pilipinas will attempt to secure one of three available slots in the Fiba Championships for the 2010 Fiba World Championships in Turkey.

It was the same situation the national squad made up of PBA standouts and coached by Chot Reyes got into back in 2005 when the team missed the Fiba-Asia Championship qualifying for the 2006 world championships after the country was suspended by the Fiba.

BAP officers reportedly met with top-ranking Fiba officials last month in Hong Kong without inviting the SBP.

“These people scheduled a meeting without the federation that the Fiba had recognized,’” said Pangilinan. ``It’s not the way to treat a national federation.’’

The creation of the Fiba special commission to the Philippines stemmed from the continuous complaints of the Basketball Association of the Philippines that the SBP failed to unite all basketball stakeholders in the country.

In his letter to Pangilinan on May 28, Baumann said the ``Bangkok Agreement,’’ which aimed to put all basketball associations under one roof, has not been achieved yet.

Baumann also cited the pending case filed by the BAP before the Supreme Court and the ongoing dispute between the BAP and the SBP that discredits the sport and the efforts of the national team as the grounds for the formation of the commission.

Headed by Fiba secretary-general emeritus Borislav Stankovic, the commission has Fiba honorary president Carl Men Ky Ching and Fiba legal chief Ken Madsen as members.

SBP vice chairman Ricky Vargas said the composition of the commission is already suspect with Ching, a known ally of BAP secretary general Graham Lim. Aside from Lim, Vargas added that athletics chief Go Teng Kok has a hand in the controversy.

``This is the `barkada’ system in the Fiba,’’ said Vargas. ``We will walk into a trap if we go to Geneva.’’

SBP executive director Noli Eala agreed, saying a decision to force the SBP to accede to the desires of the Fiba had already been made right after the commission was formed.

“`We’re being taken hostage here. We will not allow the Filipino athlete to be treated like doormats,’’ said SBP director Mikee Romero, who also attended the press conference along with PBA chair Joaqui Trillo and SBP officials Bernie Atienza and Moying Martelino.

``We will not back down,’’ he said.