CAS 2009/A/1940 (Basketball Association of the Philippines v/ FIBA & Samabang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Inc.)

Summary:
The issue of Philippines Basketball goes back several years from now when two factions fought each other to run the basketball in the Philippines.

BAP was FIBA’s National member Federation and in charge of basketball in the Philippines until the Philippines Olympic committee (POC) expelled them for their own internal reasons.

The expulsion forced FIBA to enter into the conflict and to attempt to mediate. In 2007, the two factions (BAP and SBP) agreed to merge into one federation, which was recognised by FIBA and the POC. However, BAP did never accept the situation and fought this through the legal system in the Philippines and later in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland.

BAP went through all instances and finally also lost in the Supreme Court in the Philippines.

CAS also rejected BAP’s appeal and supported FIBA's actions and decisions to officially recognize the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Inc. as its national member federation, product of the merger between BAP and SBP in 2007.

Despite having lost, BAP continues to claim that these decisions are wrong.

FIBA however respects the decisions of the Philippines Supreme Court and CAS, the two highest judicial bodies competent to hear this dispute.