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."