RP team will be spared from FIBA-SBP row

MANILA, Philippines – Take it from someone who knows basketball politics in the international arena. Former FIBA-Asia secretary-general Moying Martelino believes the Powerade Team Pilipinas will be able to play in the FIBA Asia men’s championship, notwithstanding the defiant stand taken by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) against the Federation Internationale de Basketball (FIBA). Martelino, who was official of the FIBA-Asia when it was still known as the Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC) from 1989 to 1998, said FIBA officials are sensible enough to give the national squad of coach Yeng Guiao the green light to see action in the meet set in Tianjin, China this August. “Is it possible? Yes, I think," said Martelino. Fears about the possibility of the Powerade Team Pilipinas being unable to see action in the August 6-16 qualifying meet for the 2010 World Basketball Championship surfaced after the SBP categorically declared it won’t attend the Geneva meeting set up by a special commission created by FIBA. The body seeks to thresh out what the world body referred to as “ongoing basketball controversy" in the country and the meeting is set July 20-22, almost two weeks before the Tianjin tourney. “Ang mahirap lang diyan is, if in the event, we get suspended and the suspension is for immediate effect. Yan ang magkaka-problema tayo," Martelino opined. In a letter sent by FIBA secretary-general Patrick Baumann to the SBP, the FIBA maintained that the “(FIBA) Central Board has delegated to the Special Commission for purposes of the issues surrounding Philippine basketball, all its powers under the Statutes which powers go from supervising the practice of basketball worldwide to Sanctioning and/or Suspension of Members." Martelino said: “In that case, if it found any cause for a possible suspension, the Special Commission may recommend it to the (FIBA) sec-gen, who in turn, can have the power to take action on it by ordering for its immediate effect." Such incident already happened during a previous suspension in 2005 when the RP team of Boyzie Zamar had to return back from Malaysia after it was barred from competing in the South East Asian Association (SEABA) championship. “But there are instances too, when the sec-gen would first seek out the opinion of the Central Board and whose decision, would be ratified later on upon the holding of its quarterly meetings," he stated. Now the man at the helm of Sports Vision Management – the group running the Shakey’s V-League - Martelino also raised the possibility of the suspension taking effect shortly after the FIBA-Asia meet. Martelino, however, wouldn’t delve deep into the matter, stressing, “that’s going too far ahead." - GMANews.TV