GO Teng Kok, the Philippine representative to the Laos Southeast Asian Games Federation, yesterday said the inclusion of basketball in the sports calendar for the 25th Southeast Asian Games will be formally approved during the SEAGF meeting to be held this month in Thailand.

Go, also the special assistant to Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, clarified that basketball has yet to be included in the calendar pending the formal approval from the federation.

“Yes, it’s true, basketball remains excluded in the sports list, but this is simply because there’s no formal approval yet from the federation. But this is just a formality. The organizers already accepted the plea of other member-countries to include basketball, so we don’t see any problem about this once the SEAG Federation convenes this month,” said Go.

Go, along with wushu president Julian Camacho and POC spokesman Joey Romasanta, will attend the SEAGF meeting set Jan. 20 to 22 in Bangkok.

The 25th SEAG is scheduled on Dec. 9 to 15 in Vientienne.

Internet postings recently said that Malaysia announced its concern about the continued exclusion of basketball in the sports calendar for the 25th edition of the Games, which will be held for the first time in the Laotian capital.

“Walang dapat ipag-alala ang ating mga kababayan. Kasama ang basketball sa SEA Games. Pumayag na ang lahat ng member-countries sa ating request at hinihintay lang ang formal approval,” said Go. Edwin Rollon