The Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI), an association of Cebu City -based schools, may just bolt from the Manny V. Pangilinan faction of the Basketball Association of the Philippines-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (BAP-SBP) organization following the withdrawal of its representative to the SBP’s Board of Trustees.

 Atty. Baldomero C. Estenzo, the CESAFI nominee to the SBP’s Board ofTrustees, had sought the approval of  the CESAFI Board for his decision to dissociate himself from the Pangilinan group, claiming that “in my conscience, I believe that the June 12, 2008 National Congress where I was elected was not valid for lack of quorum and a redundancy.”

According to Estenzo, the CESAFI “must be a responsible stakeholder of the BAP-SBP and must align with the duly elected leadership, regardless of their personalities.” 

In the disputed June 12 election, Pangilinan kept his post as president of his SBP faction.  Reportedly, only a minority of the bonafide 87 BAP-SBP stakeholders duly recognized by the 2007 Bangkok Agreement to vote in the organization’s first regular Board of Trustees following the one-year transitory period attended Pangilinan’s national congress.  The SBP had unilaterally chosen its 19 stakeholders-voters to elect a 25-man Board.

Another faction of the BAP-SBP had elected former Congressman Prospero “Butch” Pichay as President and Camarines Sur Representative Luis Villafierte as Chairman last June 4 in accordance with the provisions of the Bangkok Agreement, after Congressman Villafuerte convened the National Congress on May 17, 2008 attended to by overwhelming majority of the members of the Association wherein Congress passed a resolution calling for an election of the trustees and officers of BAP-SBP on June 4, 2008, a document that was signed by Pangilinan and officials from FIBA Asia and FIBA, including FIBA Secretary General Patrick Baumann.

Estenzo said that the Pichay-Villafuerte faction is the duly elected leadership as nearly 70 BAP-SBP stakeholders attended the June 4 congress.  He even cited the May 13, 2008 letter of Baumann, wherein the Membership Committee of BAP-SBP to validate the members after the transitory period and he reconfirms FIBA’s support to the duly elected leadership of the BAP-SBP on the basis of the Bangkok Agreement.

July 18, 2009 06:34 PM Saturday
The Graham Lim we know is not perfect
By: Ed Andaya                                                KIBITZER

IN a country where the favorite sport is basketball, they blame Graham Lim for every loss, every defeat in the international front.
    
When the Cebuana Lhuillier-supported Philippine team handled by coach Boysie Zamar lost to the star-studded Paranaque Jets of Eat Bulaga mainstay Anjo Yllana, they wanted to hang him in effigy. Others wanted to hang him in person.
    
When a little-known collegiate team filling in in the absence of the country’s top collegiate squads lost badly in the Stankovic Cup, they wanted to send him on a one-way trip to the moon or some other distant planets.
    
But should Lim really get all the blame?
    
Perhaps because of the coming FIBA Commission meeting in Geneva where the Philippine case will be tackled  before the  leaders of both the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) and the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP), I received this e-mail yesterday:

Dear Mr. Editor,
    
I am a confused basketball fan. Some of my friends say that Graham Lim should be blamed for the all mess in the country’s basketball program. They say he was responsible for all the losses that the country suffered in international competitions. Please tell the truth. Is he solely to blame?
    
Signed. 
    
Confused basketball fan

Well, here’s how I answered our confused basketball fan:

Dear Confused,
    
I think your friends are all wrong. They have been affected by all the misinformation which have been circulating for some time now. They read all these unfair criticisms in the newspapers, saw them on television and heard them on the radios. 
    
They only read, watch and hear Graham Lim’s faults, but not the faults of the others.
    
They believed what the so-called experts on the sport tell them hook, line and sinker.
    
They only read how a financially-strapped Philippine team got mangled by better-trained, well-funded opposition. 
    
They only watch how a second-class collegiate team proud enough to represent the country and take the place of the suddenly unavailabile top collegiate teams got beaten by superior opposition. 
    
They only hear how the young but talented team assembled by sports patron Jean Henri Lhuillier and coached by Zamar lost to a rag-tag team of ex-pros and movie stars in a tune-up game before the SEA Games.
    
But, just because our teams lost does not mean the blame should always stop on Graham’s door.
    
Yes, Mr. Confused Basketball Fan. The blame should not go to Graham Lim alone. 
    
The entire basketball hierarchy should also get the blame.
    
Basketball leaders should get the blame, too. The players should also be blamed. Even us, basketball fans, deserve some blame.
    
We are all to blame.
    
To put all the blame on one person is, to put it mildly, a cowardice act to do.
    
Of course, we all know that Lim or any other well-meaning sports leaders for that matter, cannot accomplish anything without the support and cooperation of the entire basketball community.
    
Without the unconditional support of these so-called leaders, Lim won’t be able assemble a competitive team which can really hold a candle in the face of strong opposition.
    
The question now begging for an honest answer is, “Did he get support?” 
    
Can we blame him for sending a rag-tag team in international competition because he wanted to save the country from the embarrassment of being suspended by FIBA (International Basketball Confederation) for not honoring an international commitment?
    
Can we really blame him for losing? Why, he’s not even the one mapping out the strategy on the basketball court. Well, he’s not even the one dribbling, passing, rebounding or shooting the basketball.
    
Can we really blame him for the mess that we are all in? 
    
The Graham Lim we know is not perfect. But so are the men who are now hurling the stones of hate to the poor fellow.
    
Give him a break. They’ve already called him names. Maligned him even.     They’ve even thrown everything at him, including -- pardon the pun -- the kitchen sink.
    
But I tell you that Graham, without any doubt, also wanted to bring honors to the country as much as we all want to. 
    
Hate losing? 
    
Whatever happened to the time-honored tradition that winning isn’t everything, that it’s all part of the game. 
    
Win some,lose some. 
    
Sincerely,
    
Ed Andaya

PS -- If they can really prove that Graham Lim is solely to blame, let me know so I can personally join in the crusade to hang him in person. 

For comments and suggestions, email at [email protected]

July 7, 2009 
   
Mr. Deogracias "Ding" Marcelo 
Sports Editor 
Manila Bulletin 
   
Dear Ding, 
  
How are you my friend? To this day, I remember how we acted like comrades during the old Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) days when you often sang praises to the national basketball federation.  
   
However, you seem to have forgotten those good old days, judging by the vicious attacks you hurled against the BAP in your "Sportsfan" column dated June 25, 2009. 
 
In your column, you likened the BAP to a "cancer" that just would not go away. And that in an imperfect world, the bad guys can win. I presume you are referring to the BAP as the "bad guys." And the "good guys" are the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP). 
 
For thousands, if not millions, of reasons, you are now aligned with the SBP. That I understand.    
 
Of course, the SBP is doing well and its greatest achievement so far is the country’s ninth-place finish during the 2007 FIBA-Asia tournament. 
 
But tell you what, my honorable friend. You certainly have changed your colors since we were touring the globe together in a number of FIBA-sanctioned competitions in the late 1990s and early 2000s. 
  
Will you ever forget how we enjoyed traveling to Athens, Greece for the 1998 World Basketball Championship, breaking bread and sharing notes during our spare time? 
 
Back then, I would not even mind if I shelled out a chunk of money for an honorable friend like you. It was just like the old times when you would also cash in a number of checks from another dear friend, Go Teng Kok, to make both ends meet (January 2007 letter is attached). 
   
That was until two years ago, when you started attacking Mr. Go and his NSA (track and field) in your newspaper. Before long, you and Mr. Go parted ways, perhaps because the grass is greener on the opposite end. 
   
Until now, Mr. Go has in his possession a letter he sent you and your 
bosses at the Manila Bulletin regarding payola money. A second letter of the same nature was to be sent to you and copy furnish to Dr. Emilio Yap and the others. However, somebody interfered on your behalf and requested Mr. Go not to transmit the second letter because it would be damaging to your reputation and behavior as a journalist. 
 
My honorable friend, I have the second letter in my possession. Now 
is the best time to send it to the entire Manila Bulletin editorial staff in my 
next letter to you. That way, they will better know who the real Mr. Marcelo is.    
 
Now also is the time for me to tell my side of the story to people in the sports community. 

Through the years, you, my honorable friend, have incessantly abused me verbally in your newspaper columns. However, not once did you afford me a chance to reply to those attacks. 
   
And all along, I thought there was more democratic space in the sports section, so much so I would be given my so-called "day in court" in the spirit of fair play. 
 
I was dead wrong. It was as if martial law had not had its closure until now. 
 
The vicious attacks against me and your unabashed public endorsement of the SBP group are blatant violations of the journalism code of ethics. 
   
There are always two sides to a story. You, my honorable friend, chose to favor one (SBP) without any semblance of objectivity and destroy the other (BAP) without any semblance of decency.  
 
The racist streak in you also pounced on my citizenship and deportation case without giving me some space in your sports section to clear my name. Your Marcosian-like one-sidedness is truly amazing, my honorable friend. 
 
It is as if the best way to defend the SBP is to malign me. I know that my replies and statements do not come out on print because you forbid them. 

I am afraid your bosses at the Bulletin do not really know how you run the sports section. 
 
Like the rest of the SBP spin doctors, you seek to prop up the fledgling SBP in its battle with the FIBA by conveniently striking me down with questions on my citizenship and deportation case, as if those issues have anything to do with the FIBA’s discovery of the various violations by the SBP vis-a-vis the Bangkok Agreement. 
 
That is the real issue, and not Mr. Graham Lim. Of course, the SBP had to look for a scapegoat in their current troubles and when its officials sought to put the blame on me, you could only follow for some considerations. 
   
For that, I forgive you, my honorable friend. 
 
Still, the truth shall come out in the end. And I just hope you don’t switch sides –again– when all this is over. Just remember, my honorable friend, the last laugh is always the best. 
 
God bless you and your family. 
  
Truly yours, 
   
(Original Signed) 
Graham C. Lim 
Secretary General, Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP); 
Member, International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Asia Executive 
                Committee;
Secretary General, Asian University Basketball Federation (AUBF); 
   
cc: Dr. Emilio T. Yap, Chairman of the Board, Manila Bulletin (MB)  
      (Email: [email protected]) 
Mr. Joey Lina, President, Manila Hotel 
Atty. Miguel B. Varela, President, Manila Bulletin (MB) 
Miss Paciencia M. Pineda, Exec. Vice President-Advertising Dep’t, MB 
Mr. Emilio C. Yap III, Exec. Vice President-Advertising Dept, MB 
Miss Lyne A. Abanilla, VP-Classified Advertising Dept, MB 
Mr. Geronimo S. Montalban, Manager-Classified Advertising Dept, MB 
Mr. Jesus Mallare, AVP-Metro Manila Circulation Dept, MB 
Mr. Alvin P. Mendigoria, AVP-Engineering Dept, MB  
Mr. Proceso D. Almando, VP for Administrative, MB 
Miss Carmen S. Suva, VP- Public Relations, MB 
Mr. Melito S. Salazar, VP Advertising Dep’t, MB 
Miss Aurora Capellan Tan, VP-Executive Office, MB 
Mr. Agripino C. De Los Santos, AVP Credit & Collection, MB Circulation 
Mr. Johnny L. Lugay, AVP Information & Communication Technology, MB 
Atty. Hermogenes P. Pobre, Publisher, MB 
Dr. Cris J. Icban Jr., Editor-in-Chief, MB 
Mr. Diego C. Cagahastian, News Editor, MB 
Mr. Ramon S. Francisco, Associate Editor, MB 
Miss Beth Day Romulo, Associate Editor, MB 
Miss Julie Yap Daza, Associate Editor, MB 
Miss Isabel C. De Leon, Life Style Editor, MB 
Mr. Loreto D. Cabanes, Business Editor, MB 
Mr. Zac B. Sarian, agriculture Editor, MB 
Miss Cecilia C. Colmenares, Motoring Editor, MB 
Mr. Antonio A. Antonio , Provincial Editor, MB 
Mr. Go Teng Kok, President, Philippine Amateur Track & Field Association 
           (PATAFA) 
Mr. Benny Antiporda, President, National Press Club (NPC) 
Mr. Eddie Alinea, President, Sports Columnists Organization Of the 
           Philippines (SCOOP) 
Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Members 
National Sports Associations (NSA) Members 
Philippine Sports Commission (PSC)

-- On Mon, 6/7/09, Manolo Pedralvez <[email protected]> wrote:

From: Manolo Pedralvez <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: right on column
To: "BAP BAP" <[email protected]>
Date: Monday, 6 July, 2009, 9:49 AM

Right On Column
 
SBP’s not so smart move

THE Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas (SBP) has been steaming and beefing these days over the “meddling” by the International Basketball Federation, known by its French acronym FIBA, which created a special commission last month to look into the present leadership of the sport in the country. 

​The SBP came out last Tuesday with full-page ads in two leading broadsheets, which was basically in two parts.

While the first section trumpeted its long list of accomplishments, the second portion was critical of the decision of the FIBA Central Board – a body composed of 45 reputable members of the world cage group – in forming the commission.

SBP executive director Noli Eala, who appeared at the PSA forum the very same day the ads were published, skirted the issue when asked if the SBP’s action meant it was defying the FIBA move, merely saying “it is an exercise in leadership.”

However, it was obvious during the SBP press briefing, led by its president Manny V. Pangilinan, that the association was displeased abut  the commission’s invitation  for it and its rival, the “BAP-SBP,” to come over to the FIBA headquarters in Geneva from July 20 to 22  to resolve the latest imbroglio.

The commission is composed of FIBA honorary president Carl Menky Ching, former FIBA secretary general Borislav Stankovic and Dr. Ken Madsen of the FIBA Legal Commission.

To a man, the SBP leaders said they would snub the invitation, even if it risked the country’s suspension once more, adding that they thought the commission may have already “prejudged” the matter.

They said they were clueless of the issues being raised by FIBA.
However, we obtained a copy of the  May 28 letter sent by FIBA secretary general Patrick Baumann to both parties stating that  its Central Board had reviewed  “the matter related to the institutional legitimacy of the Philippine Basketball Federation and its current leadership, (underscoring ours),” which led to the commission’s creation.

Here, in black-and-white, is the crux of the controversy.

This brings us back to the landmark “Bangkok Agreement” of February 4, 2007 . 

Signed then by the Basketball Association of the Philippines and Pilipinas Basketball, this ought to have served as a framework in merging both groups into a unified association for the sport.

Pangilinan, who headed the three-man arbitration panel, then, was a signatory to that agreement. 

A pertinent provision of the pact, hand-written by PLDT lawyer Marilyn An Nuevo, is its membership clause: “All bona fide members of BAP and PB appearing in the lists submitted by the BAP and PB to FIBA pursuant to the Tokyo Communiqué shall be admitted as ‘members,’ instead of ‘probationary members’ of SBP.”

In other words, the rosters of both BAP and PB would be recognized as voting members during the “Unity Congress” that would elect the new group’s officers a year after the agreement was signed.

For the record, the BAP presented 70 legitimate members of its group while PB hardly less than that – although it did have the powerhouse leagues such as the PBA, PBL, UAAP and NCAA on its side.

Sadly, as the records show, there were not one but two electoral exercises by two groups in 2008: one on June 4 by “BAP-SBP” and the other on June 12 by the SBP.

The first elections, conducted at the Century Park Sheraton ballroom, was attended by nearly 70 member-stakeholders that were validated under the Bangkok Agreement.

On the other hand, 19 showed up for the SBP polls staged at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati City .

A longtime basketball observer noted that of the19, five were not on original list approved by FIBA, two were no-shows while three withdrew their support because there was no quorum.

Elected officials of the June 4, 2008 polls wrote FIBA last February 7 “appealing” for recognition, claiming that the elections were done based on the conditions of the Bangkok Agreement.

If SBP can prove to the world basketball governing body that its own June 12, 2008 polls complied with the same Bangkok Agreement terms, end of story – no need for ads, press briefings, character attacks and rhetoric.
Instead of crying foul, this should have been the SBP’s smart move.
****
For comments and reactions, e-mail this scribbler at [email protected]