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Seeks another meeting with Barrios

Eala claims glitches in PBA role in SBP

By Julius Manicad

07/16/2008

BAP-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive director Noli Eala welcomes the Philippine Basketball Association’s renewed involvement in the formation of the national team.

But he seems lost in translation of PBA Commissioner Sonny Barrios’ words.

Due to this, Eala yesterday said he plans to clarify the roles the PBA would play vis-a-vis its mother cage organization.

“I will seek another meeting with the PBA as soon as possible to discuss the possible consequences of their decision,” Eala said. “I understand their decision, but it has some major repercussions.”

During a board meeting last Monday, the PBA board of governors threw its support to the SBP by maintaining its two-conference format and organizing a pocket tournament at the crucial stretch of the Nationals’ preparation for the 2009 Fiba-Asia Championship in China.

Although it emphasized not to dip its fingers in the issue of funding, the PBA wants to take charge in the overall formation of the national team, something which Eala wants to clarify with Barrios “as soon as possible.”

Also a former PBA commissioner who is privy to the league’s stand on critical issues, Eala said they have already assembled a 10-man national team organizing body that will take charge of the formation, funding, scouting, screening and selection of coaches to pick players who will represent the country in elite and regional international tournaments.

Ideally, the PBA, like the amateur, youth and women’s squads, should work under the organizing body by making all their personnel available on call. The body will be led by SBP competitions committee chairman Bernardo Atienza and notable names like Norman Black, Franz Pumaren, Junel Baculi and Chot Reyes as members.

But should the PBA maintains its firm grip on the formation of the squad, funding would definitely be a major problem, Eala said.

“For instance, how if they peg a (training) budget which our sponsor couldn’t meet, what would be our approach? There are so many questions left unanswered so it’s better if the PBA will give me another chance of explaining our program for the national team.”

San Miguel Corp., for one, reportedly spent a whopping P50 million to bankroll the PBA-powered RP Team’s training, only to fell short in its bid for an Olympic slot in the 2007 Fiba-Asia Championship in Tokushima, Japan. RP Team placed ninth, hardly beating the Chinese teenagers in their final game, 78-76.

An SBP insider, meanwhile, supported Eala’s claim, saying the PBA’s decision has raised more questions than answers because the SBP should exercise its full authority. The source said whoever should finance the team should also have the authority to assemble it, in this case — the SBP.