NOBODY could play Grinch in yesterday’s unity congress as the two conflicting parties—the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) and the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas (SBP)—united for a common goal: To put basketball where it belongs, back in the limelight.

After a lengthy and tiring battle for recognition and legitimacy, the BAP and SBP merged under the name BAP-SBP—perhaps the most logical choice because neither group would want to give away his association name.

For its first task toward legitimacy, the new group elected the 25 members of the Board of Trustees divided into five sectors—geographical, professional, school-based, commercial and special.

Under the geographical sector are Raul Alcoseba, Bonifacio Alentajan, Pedro Alfaro, Rey Baula, Elmer Valera Cabahug, Fr. Paul de Vera OSB, Graham Lim, Tony Fabico, Joey Lina, Manuel V. Pangilinan and Danilo Soria.

Composing the professional sector are Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Board of Governors’ chairman Eliezer Capacio, Red Bull owner Tony Chua, PBA commissioner Noli Eala and Victorino Vargas, while the school-based representatives are Bernie Atienza, Jun Jun Capistrano—the incumbent President of Pilipinas Basketball and University Athletic Association of the Philippines representative—Fritz Gaston, Christian Tan and Wilson Young.

On the commercial side are PBA Board of Governors treasurer Lito Alvarez, former BAP chairman Michel Lhuillier and Philippine Basketball League commisioner Chino Trinidad.

Tisha Abundo, the only woman on the Board of Trustees, represents women in basketball while Nic Jorge of the BEST Center embodies the youth division. Abundo’s and Jorge’s groups form the special sector.

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada has been assigned as adviser of the Board of Trustees.

Among the 25 Board of Trustees, Capacio has been named committee chairman, while Capistrano and Douglas Cagas were designated as the membership and audit and ethics committees’ heads, respectively.

Under the group’s by-laws, the five sectors will be comprised of representatives from different “basketball leagues and associations that are actively promoting and conducting basketball programs and competitions” in various areas that can enhance the growth of the sport in the country.

Also under the federation’s constitution, “the Board of Trustees shall serve for a term of four years and until their successors shall have been duly elected and qualified. No trustees shall be allowed to serve a cumulative term of more than eight years.”

The election of the members of the Board of Trustees will be held in 2008 to synchronize with the Olympic calendar of 2008 to 2012.

ONE extremely emotional moment in Sunday’s historic 91st staging of the Philippine Open came during the traditional awards rites at the 18th hole when Filipino ace Frankie Miñoza hoisted the championship trophy for the second time in his illustrious career.

TEAM PILIPINAS BACK IN BUSINESS

THE International Basketball Federation (Fiba) has made a stand. The basketball stakeholders have done as well. Now the ball is on the Philippine Olympic Committee’s (POC) court in the aftermath of the celebrated unity congress held Monday in Makati City.

NOBODY could play Grinch in yesterday’s unity congress as the two conflicting parties—the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) and the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas (SBP)—united for a common goal: To put basketball where it belongs, back in the limelight.

THE way he sounded during the postgame interview, it was as if Jong Uichico is making his first finals appearance.

A LUCKY racing aficionado certainly whooped it up when he was declared solo winner of the rich first set of the winner-take-all (WTA) event last Sunday at the San Lazaro Leisure Park (SLLP).