Basketball Association of the Philippines

The Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) was the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) recognized national governing body for basketball in the Philippines. It was recognized by the FIBA in 1936 until 2007, merging with Pilipinas Basketball on February 6, 2007, form the BAP-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas or BAP-SBP.

It has sanctions mostly amateur and minor commercial leagues such as the NCRAA, UCAA, Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association and the National Basketball Conference with the BARECOM as its referees.

The BAP was dissolved once the new basketball body had been formally formed as stated by a joint communique between the BAP and Pilipinas Basketball during the FIBA Congress in Saitama, Japan.

The Philippine basketball crisis

In 2005, the BAP-formed Cebuana-Lhuillier Philippine National Team, made up of little-known amateur players, lost to the Parañaque Jets, owned by city Vice Mayor and comedian Anjo Yllana in the 2005 National Basketball Conference preseason tournament. The Jets were bannered by actors and showbiz personalities, while the BAP team was supposed to have been sent to represent the country in an international tournament. This led to calls from Philippine Olympic Committee President Jose "Peping" Cojuangco to reform the BAP's programs and send a national team made up of professional players from the Philippine Basketball Association.

However, disagreements became bitter in mid-2005 as both groups wanted to have their own groups represent the country to the SEABA Men's Basketball tournament in Malaysia. The BAP also replaced Quintellano "Tiny" Literal with former Philippine senator and Laguna governor Joey Lina as President of the basketball body. As the dispute continued, other National Sports Associations of the POC expelled the association as the National Sports Association for basketball in the country and created the Philippine Basketball Federation, Inc. as the new basketball governing body. The FIBA, meanwhile, continued to recognize only the BAP and instructed its leaders to sort out the issue.

In July 2005, FIBA suspended the country from all-FIBA sanctioned events, denying an opportunity to defend the SEABA crown, a qualifying round for the FIBA Asian Championships.

Talks of unity would resurface as major basketball stakeholders the PBA, PBL, UAAP and NCAA and Joey Lina, then-BAP President to represent the BAP to form another new association, which materialized in March 2006, and was eventually known as Pilipinas Basketball.

However, the talks stalled when Lina backed out from the formation of the group. It was reported that several members of the BAP were not willing to cooperate with the limited power sharing with Pilipinas Basketball. Pilipinas Basketball tried its luck to gain FIBA recognition from FIBA Secretary-General Patrick Baumann but was denied, urging them to "keep the course".

After another dispute between POC and Lina in forming Pilipinas Basketball in March 2006, both groups agreed to a joint communique to form a new cage body, later named as the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, in order to resolve the conflict.

However, resurfaced disagreements led to Lina quitting as BAP head after 1 1/2 years at the helm, claiming POC's intervention in the formation of the SBP. Secretary-General Graham Lim also resigned in the SBP Board.

After Lina's resignation, Philippine senator Jinggoy Estrada, son of former Philippine president Joseph Estrada, became the new president of the BAP. One of the first moves he tried to made was to request for the padlocked BAP office at the Philippine Sports Commission building to be reopened and to convince the POC to reinstate the BAP. However, those requests were denied, but Estrada was given explanation by POC President Jose Cojuangco about the reasons for the BAP expulsion.

Estrada would later work with the SBP on an agreement to unify the two organizations. The BAP board became irate and fired Estrada as its president. Once again, several members of the BAP were not willing to cooperate with the limited power sharing with the SBP. Estrada stayed with the SBP as a special consultant. Philippine Amateur Track & Field Association president Go Teng Kok was named as the association's interim president.

FIBA Secretary-General Patrick Baumann, however, fast-tracked the form the SBP, saying that the BAP cannot back-out of the "Joint Communique" which stated that the BAP had to cooperate, and be merged with Pilipinas Basketball to form the SBP.

The association was dissolved and merged with Pilipinas Basketball on February 5, 2007 to finally form the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas. However, at the urging of the BAP, the new united association settled on the name "BAP-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas".

Criticisms

In its final two decades, observers criticized the said association for sending weak basketball teams in international competitions. It became evident when the country placed 15th out of 16th in the 2003 FIBA Asia Championships, their lowest ever finish in the tournament. Outrage against officials such as Secretary-General Graham Lim also became prevalent, as it is believed that he had much to do with the sending of the weak teams, while using politics to keep himself in power of the BAP.

It was also criticized back in the 1970s by team owners of the Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association for its rough treatment of some member teams. This led to 10 companies bolting out of the league in favor of forming the Philippine Basketball Association in 1975.

BAP Officers

Presidents

* Gonzalo "Lito" G. Puyat II (1965-1995)
* Roberto "Freddie" D. Jalasco, Jr. (1995-1999)
* Quintellano "Tiny" Literal (2001-2005)
* Jose "Joey" Lina (2005-2006)Resigned]
* Senator Jinggoy Estrada (2006-2007) [Office declared vacant by the BAP Executive Committee on January 6, after Estrada forged an agreement with SBP formation panel member Manuel V. Pangilinan for the unification of Philippine basketball and to lift the FIBA suspension.]
* Go Teng Kok (2007)After FIBA recognized the BAP-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas as the new basketball federation, the BAP name saw continued use by certain personalities within the new organization. This "BAP" is unofficial, and unrecognized.

ecretary Generals

* Nicanor "Nic" F. Jorge (until 1995)
* Graham C. Lim (1995-2007)

Executive Directors

* Roberto "Freddie" D. Jalasco, Jr. (1993-1995)

Notes