JIMMY ALAPAG isn’t exactly suiting up for Vlade Divac, but the recently retired Talk ’N Text star is now on the International Basketball Federation (Fiba) team headed by the National Basketball Association great from Serbia.
Just a few months after the Fiba named Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) President Manuel V. Pangilinan to its powerful Central Board, Secretary-General Patrick Baumann appointed Alapag to the newly established Players’ Commission under Divac. A member of the commission will have a five-year term ending 2019.
In a letter dated January 23 addressed to Pangilinan and SBP Executive Director Sonny Barrios, Baumann, who is arriving in the country on Thursday to oversee the Fiba Evaluation Commission’s ocular of venues in connection with the country’s bid to host the 2019 Fiba World Cup, said: “It is a pleasure for me to inform you…that Mr. Alapag has been appointed as member of the Fiba Players’ Commission…. We already look forward to closely working and collaborating with him for the sake of our sport and its athletes.”
A copy of the circular was furnished Divac, the Players’ Commission chairman, as well as Fiba Asia President Sheikh Saud Bin Ali Al-Thani, Fiba Asia Secretary-General Hagop Khajirian and National Federations and Sports Director Zoran Radovic.
The Players’ Commission was established last August in Seville, Spain, on the eve of the Fiba World Cup. Its main duties include “to study issues relating to players of all age groups, propose to the Central Board measures deemed necessary to improve the conditions of players, make recommendations on practices or activities likely to be affecting the interests of players, and provide feedback on and advice on possible improvements to the various competitions of Fiba.”
As head of the commission, Divac, also president of the Serbian Olympic Committee, automatically became a member of the Fiba Central Board.
Alapag’s appointment brought to four the number of Filipinos named to serve a five-year term in the world governing body for amateur basketball following the selection of orthopedic surgeon Dr. Raul Canlas to the Medical Commission and SBP consultant lawyer Edgar Francisco to the Legal Commission.
Pangilinan was elected to the 26-man Central Board, headed by Argentina’s Horatio Muratore, after a three-hour meeting last September in Madrid, also during the World Cup where Alapag put on a dazzling shooting display against powerhouse opponents Greece, Croatia, Argentina, Puerto Rico and Senegal.
“I’m very honored with the opportunity to represent our country in the Fiba Players’ Commission,” said Alapag, the Philippine Basketball Association Most Valuable Player in 2011. “I’m looking forward to the experience.”
Alapag retired a few weeks ago after 12 seasons with Talk ’N Text. He was later named team manager of the Tropang Texters and assistant coach to Tab Baldwin at Gilas Pilipinas.
“We are very proud of Jimmy. When Fiba asked for nominees to its Players Commission, we had no hesitation in nominating him. He definitely will make his country proud and we are confident he will make positive contributions in the work of the Commission for the players’ benefit,” Barrios said.