CLAIMS IT HAS FULL BACKING FROM FIBA ‘INSIDER’
SBP on move to evade suspension
By Julius Manicad
06/27/2009
The Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas (SBP) yesterday revealed that it has approached an “independent body” within the International Basketball Federation (Fiba) for the much-need help in the face of brewing conflict now putting the Philippines on the brink of another possible suspension.
SBP vice chairman Ricky Vargas expressed elation over the development, believing that the country will be able to evade the suspension while not affecting at all the participation of Powerade-Team Pilipinas which will take part in the 25th Fiba-Asia Men’s Championship in Tianjin, China.
Though he refused to divulge the name or names, Vargas nevertheless confirmed that the Fiba executives they approached to are not part of the “barkada system” where Fiba honorary president Carl Ching Menky and Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) secretary-general Graham Lim belong.
Menky is reportedly behind the creation of the special commission tasked to investigate the ongoing dispute between the SBP and the BAP. He was also said to have ordered the reinstatement of Lim as Fiba youth commission chairman despite his being of questionable personality in the local basketball circuit.
But it was the controversial Go Teng Kok who admitted to have brokered their meeting in Hong Kong two months ago that led to the creation of a special commission. Go, the outspoken athletics chief who once handled the BAP, is said to be a close pal of Menky.
“We’re doing something about it,” Vargas said in a hastily-called press briefing at the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) office yesterday. “There are things going on which the SBP is doing. In fact, we already approached an independent body in Fiba to help us resolve this problem.”
“I am very confident that we’ll not be suspended,” said Vargas, the trusted deputy of SBP president Manny Pangilinan.
Vargas’ statement, however, came at the heels of a reported secret meeting between Lim and Powerade-Team Pilipinas team manager JB Baylon, his colleague in the PBA board of governors. Baylon represents Coca-Cola, which bankrolls Team Pilipinas’ participation from the SEABA Men’s Championship all the way to the Fiba World Championship in 2010.
Baylon confirmed the veracity of the meeting that took place last Wednesday, but reiterated his denial over claims that he was “sleeping with the enemy.” He, however, explained his side to the PBA board of governors with PBA commissioner Renauld “Sonny” Barrios in attendance.
He also told the PBA board that the meeting was arranged by a sportswriter.
“Philippine basketball will not forgive you for what you’re doing,” PBA chairman Joaqui Trillo quoted Baylon’s statement to Lim. “He said it was his first time to meet him. He just only wants to protect the interest of his company.
