|
Manuel
V. Pangilinan, president of the Basketball Association
of the Philippines-Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas (BAP-SBP),
has reportedly called for a lunch meeting tomorrow with
board representatives of the University Athletic
Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and the National
Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
It’s nothing more than a simple lunch,
said one board member who wished to be anonymous. But
the speculation is that the failed proposal for a “super
league” between the two oldest collegiate athletic
associations will be brought up.
BAP-SBP executive director Patrick
Gregorio in an e-mail to this writer said: “Gusto lang
namin makipag-usap hindi lang sa NCAA at UAAP, pati sa
lahat ng gumagawa ng liga sa Pilipinas. One basketball
program, that is our dream.”
Gregorio also cited online polls as
being overwhelmingly positive for the creation of a
“super league.”
Unfortunately, many in the basketball
community feel that Gregorio instead polarized the
basketball community by taking his proposals to the
public as opposed to initially sitting down with the
bodies and persons concerned.
“The groundwork for such an endeavor is
daunting. While it normally takes at least a year in
planning,” said one UAAP board member. “A lot has to be
discussed. There is a calendar of events to be followed.
Any new introductions normally are put off until the
following year. What he [Gregorio] should have done was
make a formal presentation. As it is, he spoke with some
people and probably misconstrued their liking the idea
as immediately [implementable]. Everyone concerned was
only hearing of things through the newspapers or
hearsay.”
Sources within the University of the
Philippines
community confirm this. When Chancellor Sergio Cao met
with Gregorio, it was nothing more than an informal
discussion of the school’s centennial plans. There was
no mention of any blueprint for a “super league,” a
merger or a fusion of the two associations whatsoever.
I solicited feedback from the National
Capital Region Athletic Association and one
representative said “we don’t really discuss it since
hindi naman kami kasali. But I don’t think it will
prosper. I don’t think they (BAP-SBP) went about it the
right way.”
With similar sentiments and their own
interests at stake, the UAAP last Monday shot down the
proposal through a unanimous 8-0 vote. Media partner
ABS-CBN likewise said that no proposal was brought forth
to them whatsoever and that they weren’t ready for any
merger within a short time span.
But Gregorio says the SBP is not giving
up on putting up their proposal, “All we ask is for a
chance to present ourselves. Maganda ’to. Promise,” he
said.
Hopefully this time around they’ll do it
the right way. |
