The Basketball Association of the Philippines is keen on bringing the National Students Tournament to Bacolod City after Negros Oriental withdrew from the task of hosting the hostilities in Dumaguete City in February, a ranking BAP official said yesterday.

Tony Agustin, BAP regional director for Western Visayas, yesterday said that the association's officials from Manila are requesting him to host the national tournament in Bacolod.

"BAP wants the tournament to be staged here (Bacolod), but I'm still ironing out things because I'm also considering the expenses for hosting the event," Agustin told the DAILY STAR.

Agustin said that he would also seek for the assistance of the Negros Occidental Provincial Government, headed by Gov. Joseph Marañon, in case the hosting will push through.

The West Negros College Mustangs, who won to the national crown in Legazpi, Albay last year, will also have the homecourt advantage in its title-retention bid if the tournament will be held in Bacolod.

Glynda Descuatan, co-chair of the Negros Oriental sports and cultural facilities management board, said they decided to give up the hosting job because they do not want to hamper the move of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas to unite all basketball groups in the country.

Negros Oriental Gov. George Arnaiz, the board's co-chair, has already approved the group's decision and its plan to send a representative to the SBP Unity Congress on Feb. 5 in Manila.

AGUSTIN REMAINS WITH BAP

Agustin has also denied reports that he is ready to step down as the BAP regional director for Western Visayas.

"I'm not resigning as BAP regional director," Agustin, who is also the chairman of the WNC Sports Foundation, said.

Agustin said he will attend the congress of SBP that will be presided over by business tycoon Manny Pangilinan, but it does not automatically mean that he will change alliances.

Agustin said that he will attend the National Congess of BAP on Jan. 27 to hear its side on the basketball problems in the country and weigh things before making any decision.

"I do not want to be involved in politicking in sports because I'm just doing my job for the love of basketball so I need to make the best decision possible," he added.

The reports on the impending resignation of Agustin came on the heels of the BAP's firing of its own president, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, the resignation of director-spokesman Fritz Gaston and the decision of the National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities league to leave the association in the past two weeks. *CIT

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