One Basketball Family
Bleacher Talk
Sept 3, 2006
One Basketball Family
Bring on Sister Sledge and sing with them, “We are family! I’ve got all my sisters with me. We are family”!
The sports headlines were all blaring about what could be the biggest breakthrough in Philippine basketball family. In a rare sign of unity, the leaders of the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP), Pilipinas Basketball (PB) and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) have agreed to sit down and create a new and united organization that will now serve as the legit national sports association (NSA) for basketball.
While everyone will say that the country was the biggest winner in this development, it can’t be denied the PB’s relentless efforts to be recognized by the FIBA has finally reaped its fruits. For awhile, I had thought the FIBA was going to stay stubborn and recognize only the BAP as the country’s only basketball NSA. It now looks like the FIBA has acknowledged that PB does represent a fairly heavy voice in the basketball family.
And so while the good news is in, it’s time to get down to work asap! The BAP’s Joey Lina, Bernie Atienza of PB and the third member of the committee (endorsed by both sides) have until September 30 to create this new organization. While that may sound pretty far off, it’s not going to be easy.
The new stories report that “the three-man panel has to finalize the new group’s constitution and by-laws based on democratic, country-wide and mass-based representation of the various sectors of basketball — sectoral, commercial, school-based and professional. The panel will also have to call for an election of officers; review, verify and validate the list of members submitted by the BAP and PB; and convene the National Congress of the united organization and to oversee the election process.“ Now that’s a lot of work! But I’m sure they can get it done with the support of their respective resources and allies.
One of the most interesting tasks will be the “review, verification and validating of the list of members” who will be part of this new NSA. If the new NSA is to be the mother organization for the entire country, it should recognize every single basketball organization that exists, from as high as the pro level all the way down to the local commercial and collegiate leagues. I’ll be keeping a close eye on this since this will also bring out “in public” everyone involved in the sport. This was a task that the BAP failed to do. If it couldn’t get the PBA, PBL, UAAP and NCAA to side with the now “defunct” BAP, then who were their members? Did those BAP members then have the “moral” voice to speak for the sport? But I’m glad that’s a thing of the past. It’s time to move on.
And how will these members be evaluated? Will they need to be registered with the SEC? Will they be required to have a minimum number of member teams? Are they required to have a complete calendar of basketball activities? Can a simple organization like the CECABA, SCBHABA or SHABA be a regular member of the new NSA’s Cebu chapter or branch? For the new NSA to succeed, it must have a genuine representation from all sectors of the sport. Only then will the voice of all be heard and hopefully be converted to a comprehensive program that will build the sport and take it to another level.
The next and surely more interesting task will then be the election of officers of the NSA. If a truly nationwide representation is complete, it shouldn’t be difficult to pick a head. Talks are aplenty that Manny Pangilinan should be a virtual shoo-in to head the NSA. I just hope that the elections will be smooth, swift and devoid of politicking and the old trapo ways.
Moreover, who will compose the first set of officers? Will Joey Lina’s group of Graham Lim, Fritz Gaston and Michel Lhuillier have a role to play? Will they have enough clout to bring Lim back as the organization’s Secretary-General? (I sure hope not). I’m already assuming that the PBA will have a big representation and voice based on its stature as the most respected, richest and most successful league in the land. I’m sure this will receive a lot of protests from the old BAP family, but the truth is plain for all to see. My only wish is that Graham Lim doesn’t remain stubborn with his anti-PB stance, sees the light and make the sacrifice for the sake of the sport and the country.
At the Cebu level, another highlight is who will be voted to represent us. Will the high profile team of Michel Lhuillier and Yayoy Alcoseba (with their MVBA and VAAA) get the call? Or will it come from the CESAFI that traces its roots to collegiate basketball and its rich history?
So many questions. So little time. But it’s all for the best. Forming this new NSA will definitely not be an easy task. It will be a long and arduous road, but one that should be good for all of us in the long run.
And the bottom line is that we’re now back as one big family.
***Time-out: Happy birthday to our MVP, Mama Ising! Thanks for everything! From your three boys: Popoy, Thirdy and Bleacher Talk. >>> For comments, you can reach us at bleachertalk@yahoo.com or http://bleachertalk.blogspot.com.
Sept 3, 2006
One Basketball Family
Bring on Sister Sledge and sing with them, “We are family! I’ve got all my sisters with me. We are family”!
The sports headlines were all blaring about what could be the biggest breakthrough in Philippine basketball family. In a rare sign of unity, the leaders of the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP), Pilipinas Basketball (PB) and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) have agreed to sit down and create a new and united organization that will now serve as the legit national sports association (NSA) for basketball.
While everyone will say that the country was the biggest winner in this development, it can’t be denied the PB’s relentless efforts to be recognized by the FIBA has finally reaped its fruits. For awhile, I had thought the FIBA was going to stay stubborn and recognize only the BAP as the country’s only basketball NSA. It now looks like the FIBA has acknowledged that PB does represent a fairly heavy voice in the basketball family.
And so while the good news is in, it’s time to get down to work asap! The BAP’s Joey Lina, Bernie Atienza of PB and the third member of the committee (endorsed by both sides) have until September 30 to create this new organization. While that may sound pretty far off, it’s not going to be easy.
The new stories report that “the three-man panel has to finalize the new group’s constitution and by-laws based on democratic, country-wide and mass-based representation of the various sectors of basketball — sectoral, commercial, school-based and professional. The panel will also have to call for an election of officers; review, verify and validate the list of members submitted by the BAP and PB; and convene the National Congress of the united organization and to oversee the election process.“ Now that’s a lot of work! But I’m sure they can get it done with the support of their respective resources and allies.
One of the most interesting tasks will be the “review, verification and validating of the list of members” who will be part of this new NSA. If the new NSA is to be the mother organization for the entire country, it should recognize every single basketball organization that exists, from as high as the pro level all the way down to the local commercial and collegiate leagues. I’ll be keeping a close eye on this since this will also bring out “in public” everyone involved in the sport. This was a task that the BAP failed to do. If it couldn’t get the PBA, PBL, UAAP and NCAA to side with the now “defunct” BAP, then who were their members? Did those BAP members then have the “moral” voice to speak for the sport? But I’m glad that’s a thing of the past. It’s time to move on.
And how will these members be evaluated? Will they need to be registered with the SEC? Will they be required to have a minimum number of member teams? Are they required to have a complete calendar of basketball activities? Can a simple organization like the CECABA, SCBHABA or SHABA be a regular member of the new NSA’s Cebu chapter or branch? For the new NSA to succeed, it must have a genuine representation from all sectors of the sport. Only then will the voice of all be heard and hopefully be converted to a comprehensive program that will build the sport and take it to another level.
The next and surely more interesting task will then be the election of officers of the NSA. If a truly nationwide representation is complete, it shouldn’t be difficult to pick a head. Talks are aplenty that Manny Pangilinan should be a virtual shoo-in to head the NSA. I just hope that the elections will be smooth, swift and devoid of politicking and the old trapo ways.
Moreover, who will compose the first set of officers? Will Joey Lina’s group of Graham Lim, Fritz Gaston and Michel Lhuillier have a role to play? Will they have enough clout to bring Lim back as the organization’s Secretary-General? (I sure hope not). I’m already assuming that the PBA will have a big representation and voice based on its stature as the most respected, richest and most successful league in the land. I’m sure this will receive a lot of protests from the old BAP family, but the truth is plain for all to see. My only wish is that Graham Lim doesn’t remain stubborn with his anti-PB stance, sees the light and make the sacrifice for the sake of the sport and the country.
At the Cebu level, another highlight is who will be voted to represent us. Will the high profile team of Michel Lhuillier and Yayoy Alcoseba (with their MVBA and VAAA) get the call? Or will it come from the CESAFI that traces its roots to collegiate basketball and its rich history?
So many questions. So little time. But it’s all for the best. Forming this new NSA will definitely not be an easy task. It will be a long and arduous road, but one that should be good for all of us in the long run.
And the bottom line is that we’re now back as one big family.
***Time-out: Happy birthday to our MVP, Mama Ising! Thanks for everything! From your three boys: Popoy, Thirdy and Bleacher Talk. >>> For comments, you can reach us at bleachertalk@yahoo.com or http://bleachertalk.blogspot.com.
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