NEWLY elected Basketball Association of the Philippines-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (BAP-SBP) Inc. executive director Noli Eala would craft a “full-blown” program for the national team’s participation in international meets.

Eala disclosed this plan at the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum Tuesday at the Shakey’s United Nations Avenue where he also officially announced the Philippines’ withdrawal in the William R. Jones Cup set next month in Taiwan.

The former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) commissioner noted that the current system of plucking the best players in the pro league does not work anymore.

“Before, you appoint the coach, the manager and get the players, then that’s your national team. We need to put up a sound program for the national team,” said Eala, also the president and chief operating officer of Liga Pilipinas.

“And that’s something we’re now working on and will be presenting to the executive committee of SBP,” he added.

Eala said he will talk with members of the International Basketball Federation (Fiba) Central Board if they can allot two slots for Asia in the 2012 Olympics in London. By practice, the international body only gives one slot to Asia, which means that the champion of the 2011 Fiba Asia qualifier will get the lone slot for region for the London Olympics.

“We’ll try to meet with Asian leaders probably here in Manila to seek for a common goal of one more slot in the Olympics,” said Eala. “I believe it will be good for basketball in Asia.”

The country is also eyeing a slot in the 2010 Fiba World Championship in Turkey.

The BAP-SBP, meanwhile, has already informed the Taiwanese organizers of the Jones Cup of the country’s decision to withdraw, citing the conflict of schedule with the PBA and the lack of “materials” to form a competitive team.

Harbour Centre, the multititled squad in the Philippine Basketball League, volunteered to represent the country in the Jones Cup, but the organizers set conditions that did not sit well with team owner Dr. Mikee Romero.

Other international tournaments calendared this year are the second Southeast Asia Basketball Association Stankovic qualifying from July 23 to 27 in Thailand and the Stankovic Cup from October 9 to 17 in Kuwait. There are also invitations from Singapore and Jordan, according to Eala.

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