October 14, 2006 Saturday Interview with Manila Times
“What is really the motive of Manny Pangilinan”
By: Commissioner Quirino "Chino" A. Marquinez
First, Manny Pangilinan announced earlier on that “he accepted being head of the three-man panel only up to the formation of the new single basketball organization and that he is not interested in any position in the new organization.
Then after the incorporation of the new organization, Pangilinan announced that “he was available to be Chairman but not President because the latter position is a full time position.”
Then after a barrage of press releases coming from organization affiliated with Pilipinas Basketball (PB), asking Pangilinan to be Chairman and President in a concurrent capacity, Pangilinan announced that he was prepared to assume the Chairmanship and Presidentcy of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) in a concurrent capacity provided Pangilinan had the support of both the BAP and the PB in the formation of the SBP management team.
BAP supports Pangilinan only as Chairman but not as President. The BAP has a nominee for the President. Only PB supports Pangilinan as Chairman and President in a concurrent capacity.
Now, Pangilinan simply wants to be Chairman and President of SBP in a concurrent capacity even without the support of the BAP conveniently forgetting his condition for accepting the SBP chairmanship and presidency, i.e. provided he had the support of both the BAP and PB in the formation of the SBP management team.
What really is Pangilinan’s motive? Noble? I doubt it if you analyze the sequence of events. Even in year 2001, Pangilinan was already sided and involved with those presently with the PB officers which was known as the “Superbody” to discredit the BAP but was unsuccessful.
Think about it. Did Pangilinan accept being the head of the three-man panel with a definite intention of controlling basketball in the country?
Being an avid fan of basketball game and, as then former vice president and governor of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), I feel that a certain group is condemning the interest of the BAP which should not be the case. BAP is the only recognized basketball organization outside the country and have existed much longer that any other organization or sports organization.
BAP should stay as it is, but the men behind could be reorganized. BAP has not done anything wrong to the country, so why change?
