Is a colorful SEA coverage possible without basketball?

Sports takes center stage this month as the Philippines hosts for the third time the Southeast Asian Games, the region’s version of the Olympics.

For nine days, from November 27 to December 5, media are expected to highlight the year’s main sporting event, where 11 countries are expected to participate.

But the Games are likely to proceed without the most popular sport in the country – basketball.

As of press time, it looks like basketball will not be part of the SEA Games agenda because the country has been suspended by the Federacion Internationale de Basketball (FIBA) from participating in all official international competitions. The world governing body in basketball that sanctions international sports events, the FIBA continues to recognize the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP).

The FIBA suspension was prompted by the decision of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) to expel the BAP. The POC is headed by former Estrada Cabinet member Robert Aventajado and congressman Jose Cojuangco Jr., while the BAP is represented by former senator Jose Lina. In a 33-2 vote, the general assembly of national sports associations had moved for the ouster of the BAP in the country’s Olympic roster.

Overall, the coverage of the issue showed media objectively presenting the positions of the two opposing camps, including the FIBA’s recent decision to uphold the suspension. Concerned parties, as well as the national coaches, have been asked for their views as the controversy unfolded. (“After FIBA rebuke, only thing left is hope,” Manila Bulletin, Oct. 8)

Many newspaper reports, however, did not have a complete background on the POC-BAP controversy. Only The Philippine Star (“Solution to cage problem looms,” Oct. 3) provided details of the POC’s recent meeting with FIBA. It also presented a historical account of the conflict. J.R. Alibutud (“Still in her prime,” Philippine Graphic, Sept. 26) and Ramon J. Farolan (“The SEA Games without basketball,” Philippine Daily Inquirer, Oct. 9) wrote about the possible ramifications of the FIBA ban on the country’s basketball program.

In contrast, The Daily Tribune’s news articles on the FIBA-POC-BAP brouhaha were often editorialized, biased, and lacked background. (e.g. “FIBA turns down Peping; no caging in SEAG,” Oct. 1 and “What successful FIBA trip—RP cagers also out of world meet?” Oct. 4) The Tribune had a number of stories that focused on Cojuangco as politician-sportsman (e.g. “Peping losing his fight; POC appeals cage issue to Fiba” Oct. 8; “Peping blinked” Play By Ear by Jon Hernandez III, Oct. 4).

Citing “observers,” the paper claimed that the POC move [to set up meetings with Lina] was a face-saving strategy for Cojuangco and Co. (“PBFI junked—RP caging starts from scratch” Oct. 6). The Tribune also reported that the POC chair “went home virtually empty-handed” from a meeting with FIBA, adding that the terms of FIBA were “both losing ends to Cojuangco’s propositions” (“Virtual death blow to Peping’s action—BAP okays unity in own terms,” Oct. 5).

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