'Did they follow Bangkok Agreement?', BAP's Lim asks SBP

MANILA, Philippines – “Don’t blame me." This was the message by beleaguered basketball official Graham Lim to the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) officials. SBP is pinning Lim as the one who paved the way for the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) to create a special commission tasked to “mediate and seek a solution" on the ongoing conflict between the country’s two basketball parties. “Huwag ako ang sisihin nila," said Lim. “Bakit sila natatakot humarap sa special committee ng FIBA? Kung wala silang violation na ginawa, dapat hindi sila matakot. Leave it all up to FIBA," Lim said. Owing to letters and complaints FIBA had received from BAP officials in the past, the world basketball body decided to form a three-man special committee to investigate the issues being raised against SBP. FIBA secretary general emeritus Borislav Stankovic heads the commission, which also has for its members FIBA honorary president Carl Men Ky Ching and FIBA legal commission’s Ken Madsen. The group already set a July 20-22 meeting in Geneva with SBP in an effort to sort out the controversy. But Pangilinan and the rest of the SBP officials had put it on record that they won’t attend the event, convinced that they won’t get a fair treatment from a committee which has for members people with known affiliations to Lim. SBP vice-president Ricky Vargas even insinuated that it doesn’t make sense attending the meeting since the association itself isn’t aware of any wrong doing it committed. Lim was gracious enough to point it out it to them. “Nasunod ba ‘yung nakasaad doon sa Bangkok Agreement? Kung tama lahat ang ginawa ng SBP, then they don’t need to worry." The Bangkok Agreement was the pact that paved the way for the merging of the BAP and SBP two years ago. – GMANews.TV