|
 NOW,
the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP)
wants the biggest head to roll after it lobbied for the
expulsion of Manny Pangilinan in the
country’s move to have the Fiba-authored suspension
lifted.
The BAP,
which said Pangilinan’s presence and active involvement
through the unification process “prevents fairness and
impartiality,” has written the Fiba about its intention
to replace the telecommunications mogul.
The BAP
chose Pangilinan as the mediator between BAP and BAP’s
rival faction Pilipinas Basketball (PB) and has acted as
the third member in the three-man panel created in
accordance with the Tokyo communiqué forged last
year.
The
other members of the three-man panel were former senator
Joey Lina representing the BAP and Bernie Atienza acting
for PB.
The BAP,
through its chairman-emeritus Lito Puyat, said
Pangilinan is “powerless” to act as mediator because
Lina and Atienza had already quit their posts.
“Both
BAP and PB must nominate the replacements of their
representatives who quit the panel. Otherwise, there is
no panel to speak of, and Manuel V. Pangilinan has no
power nor authority to act unilaterally in behalf of the
three-man panel,” Puyat said. “In the light of the
preceding, it is urgently prayed that a new ‘three-man
panel’ be constituted, and Mr. Pangilinan be replaced as
third member to the panel.”
Sen.
Jinggoy Estrada replaced Lina but the BAP expelled him
as president for meeting with Pangilinan in Hong Kong, a
move the BAP said it did not authorize. Until now, the
BAP has not named a regular replacement with Christian
Tan acting as officer in charge.
Atienza’s replacement is Ateneo athletic department head
Jose Capistrano Jr.
Graham
Lim, the BAP secretary-general and one of those who
signed the letter sent to Fiba yesterday that petitioned
for Pangilinan’s ouster, said it would only attend the
unity congress set on February 5 by Samahang Basketbol
ng Pilipinas if Pangilinan inhibits
himself.
Lawyer
Bonnie Alentajan, legal representative of the BAP, added
that the unity congress is “premature”, saying despite
the union of the BAP and PB through the SBP, membership
of both sides has not been determined yet.
“[So]
how would the officers of the unidentified members be
elected or chosen? The name of the merged organization
must be determined by the duly elected officers,”
Alentajan added. |
