MANILA, 21 November 2003 — The world governing body in basketball has reiterated its support to the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) as the “legitimate and accredited” group to supervise the sport in the country.

BAP President Quintellano “Tiny” Literal said FIBA President Carl Ching Menky re-affirmed Fiba’s solid backing of the BAP in its tug-of-war for recognition against BAP Incorporated (BAPI) through an overseas call.

The BAPI was declared sole governing body of amateur basketball in the country by the Court of Appeals, but Literal said the court only recognized its right to use the name BAPI and not the authority to rule basketball.

“The FIBA will only talk and deal with the BAP simply because it’s the only recognized member of our association. We don’t know any group other than BAP,” Literal quoted Menky as saying.

The ABC and the POC have earlier vouched for the legitimacy of BAP. Boni Alentajan, the BAP lawyer, said BAPI “is trying to deceive the people. We have checked the court records and we have the true documents that will show that the Court of Appeals only decided that we cannot use the Basketball Association of the Philippines Inc., which we don’t intend to use anyway.”

Tennis Group Wants RP on Top in Asia

A group of senior tennis players has embarked on a mission to bring the Philippines back to the pinnacle of Asian tennis through a massive program designed to encourage and promote the sport among the youth. The group is a non-profit organization designed to assist Filipino players in their quest for a place alongside the world’s elite through equal and proper training condition.

After lording it over the tennis giants of Asia, when the national tennis team composed of Felix Barrientos, Roland So and Raymond Suarez demolished China and Japan to qualify in the “World Cup” in Davis Cup, Philippine tennis has been on the slump.

“Our losses to Indonesia right in our soil, where we led, 2-0, only to lose out in the finals and to Uzbekistan, 5-0, which relegated us for the first time in Group II of the Oceanic Zone, do not speak well about the status of tennis prevailing in our country today,” said Ilagan. “It is in this despicable scenario where the new tennis body hopes to make an indelible mark toward improving the lackluster performance of our players in competition abroad.”

Likewise, promoting pro-tennis competitions, which are lacking in the country, is an essential factor in developing our age-groupers to become one of international stature. It will, at the same time, improve the lackluster performance of our national players in competition abroad, he added.

All Systems Go for 7th Asian Softball Meet

Asia’s biggest and most prestigious tournament in men’s softball takes place starting Nov. 29 with eight nations led by host Philippines and defending champions Japan in the cast.

The seventh edition of the biennial Asian championship was supposed to be held last May at the Rizal Stadium but was postponed for many months due to the SARS epidemic that hit the region.

It’s now all systems go, according to Manila Rep. Harry C. Angping, president of the organizing Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines, who has left no stone unturned to make the six-day meet successful. The ASA-Phil head is also confident the Blu Boys will do well, saying the team had trained long and hard to be on top again in the tournament the country has won three times in the past, the last in 1990.

RP Wushu Squad Eyes to Win 3 Golds in SEAG

The Philippine wushu-sanshou team of wushu is hoping to win three gold medals next month in the South East Asian Games in Vietnam even though Filipino athletes expect a tougher opposition this time. Candelaria is eyeing what could be the best performance for the team in the biennial meet to be staged on Dec. 5-13.

Candelaria’s prediction of two gold medals hit the mark during the last SEA Games but said he is wary this of entries from Thailand and host Vietnam. The two countries fared well in recent meets, including the Asian Games.”

The Thais have shown they are ready, Candelaria noted as his ward Rexel Nganhayna fell to a Thai in the finals of the last year’s Asiad in Busan, South Korea. Six golds are up for grabs in wushu in Vietnam. Nganhayna won a gold in the last SEA Games along with now retired Marques Sangiao.

WBC Champ Gabi to Train in US

Newly crowned World Boxing Council (WBC) International flyweight champion Prince Gabi steps closer to fulfilling his big time dreams when he hooks up with legendary trainer Emmanuel Steward at the latter’s Kronk Gym in Detroit, Michigan early next year. Gabi had annexed the WBC International title recently with a technical decision win over deposed champ Randy Mangubat in their 12-round duel top-billing the “Engkwentro” card at the North Cotabato provincial gymnasium.

“Yes, that’s our plan. We will definitely bring him to the US where he will get the best training methods available,” said Socrates Pi?ol, Gabi’s manager.

“Negotiations between our camp and Emmanuel Steward are under way,” agreed North Cotabato governor Emmanuel Pi?ol, who was at ringside when Gabi took the title away from Mangubat via scores of 116-110, 116-111, 114-112.

Meanwhile, Games and Amusements Board boxing division chief Emmanuel Flores said that he will communicate with WBC International President Mauro Betti to give Gabi a slot in the top 15 rankings of the WBC. Flores, who supervised last Sunday’s fight, is a member of the WBC Board of Governors.

Torre Confident Chessers Will Deliver

Grandmaster Eugene Torre said his victory and the impressive finish of his teammates in the recent Belgian chess tourney augurs well for the country’s campaign in the Vietnam SEA Games next month.

“We’re confident we can deliver for the country,” Torre said, adding they expect tough opposition from players from host Vietnam, Indonesia and Singapore. Torre had met with First Gentleman Mike Arroyo who partly financed the campaign of Asia’s first GM and his teammates in the Belgian tournament.

In another development, GM-candidate Mark Paragua will return to the country next week from his European campaign. Paragua will team up with Torre, GMs Joey Antonio and Bong Villamayor, Asian Zonal champion and GM-candidate Ronald Dableo and International Master Jayson Gonzales in Vietnam.

Paragua’s return ticket will be shouldered by Arroyo.

Torre dedicated his recent victory to Dona Trining Nevada whom he said is his “second” mother based in Baguio. Nevada died last Nov. 5 at the age of 84.