Basketball in doubt for SEAG

Basketball in doubt for SEAG

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Basketball-crazy Philippines is ready to yank the sport from
the upcoming 23rd Southeast Asian Games for the first time in the
history of the regional multisports event amid a bitter dispute
for control of the game at home.

The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) decided to cancel hoops
for the Games later this month after failing to secure backing
from the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), POC chairman
Roberto Aventajado told Agence France-Presse in Manila.

FIBA banned the Philippine team from tournaments it sanctions
in June after the POC expelled the local Basketball Association
of the Philippines (BAP), the sole member association recognized
by the world sporting body.

Aventajado said the expulsion of BAP was meant to pave the way
for the reorganization of the country's basketball program, after
the poor performance of national teams in past international
tournaments.

"The present situation in Manila prohibits us from holding
basketball games given that the FIBA-recognized association which
is the BAP was expelled by the POC," Aventajado said.

"This is the first time in the Southeast Asian Games' history"
that basketball won't be played, he said, adding that he was to
leave later Thursday to inform the Games council in Bangkok of
the development.

A last-minute compromise being worked out among the
organizations concerned failed to materialize, and so "we can't
do anything about it".

However, chief of development for the Indonesian Basketball
Association Ade Bella Harahap was hopeful a resolution could be
reached at the Bangkok meeting.

"The decision will only be made tomorrow (Friday)," Ade told
The Jakarta Post on Thursday. "It would be a great pity if
basketball is not held, because it has been in every SEA Games
since the beginning."

Ade regretted that an internal rift in the Philippine
basketball community threatened to affect the SEA Games. "This is
really a problem about them having two competing teams, and that
is something they need to get settled."