MANILA, Philippines—The BAP-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas is again knocking on the doors of the Philippine Basketball Association. And this time, the governing body of the sport in the country wants a definite answer.

BAP-SBP executive director Noli Eala Tuesday sent a letter to the PBA asking for a meeting in connection with the proposed campaign by the men’s basketball team in qualifying tournaments for the 2010 FIBA-World Championships and 2012 London Olympics.

“I want to find out what their (PBA officials’) plans are,” said Eala, who served as commissioner of the pro league from 2003 until last year.

PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios has recently proposed that the league revert to a three-conference format and dump the bi-annual conference setup installed two seasons ago during Eala’s term.

The two-conference schedule was designed to fit into the calendar of the FIBA (International Basketball Federation).

Eala is apprehensive that going back to the old PBA format would affect the availability of pro players for elite tournaments in the qualifying meets for the 2010 FIBA World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, and 2012 London Games.

“Adjustments should be made early once the PBA decides to shift to a three-conference plan,” said Eala, who has invited Barrios to a meeting on Monday.

Under the by-laws of the BAP-SBP, preparation for elite tournaments such as the world championships and the Olympics should fall under the jurisdiction of the professional league.

If the PBA fails to show interest in the formation of the men’s team for the world championships and 2012 Olympics, Eala said the BAP-SBP would focus on developing players culled from the Nokia-RP Youth Team.

“The PBA should not be taken out of the equation. That was the agreement that we had,” said Eala. “But I will make plans regardless of what the PBA will tell me and one option is to develop players for the men’s team.”

A team made up of PBA players and coached by Vincent “Chot” Reyes landed ninth overall during the 2007 FIBA-Asia Championship held in Tokushima, Japan, the qualifying tournament for the 2008 Beijing Olympics in August.

With only two Asian slots available, the champion team (Iran) claimed a berth while the other Asian seat automatically went to China as host of the Olympics.