The door has been slammed in his face many times but Lina, buoyed by FIBA’s upholding of BAP as the recognized basketball body for the Philippines, is taking the route of a biblical story to get his foot in.

"Like a father," Lina said he hopes the POC will welcome the BAP back in the fold "like a prodigal son."

Lina intends to arm himself with potent documents when he makes another pitch at the POC.

"For the nth time, the BAP will seek a reconsideration of POC’s expulsion of BAP, but this time backed up by an amended constitution and by-laws, similar to what the original five stakeholders (PBA, PBL, UAAP, NCAA and BAP) had agreed upon until the four stakeholders changed their minds and organized a new and separate basketball federation," he said.

Reacting to a recent FIBA decision maintaining its recognition of the BAP as the legitimate governing body for basketball in the country, Lina reiterated the FIBA finding that the expulsion of BAP was done "inappropriately and out of proportion."

He also stressed that the reversal of POC’s expulsion order is the "fastest" and "most expedient way" to lift the FIBA suspension of the Philippines.

Calling out to BAP’s fellow stakeholders, Lina said: "Let us sit down and talk, and not leave the table of dialogue until we have reached a consensus and are united to pursue a common goal. Majority decision is not what FIBA is asking for but a consensus of all."

Last Wednesday in Seoul, FIBA, through its Secretary General Patrick Baumann, rejected a POC lobby to replace the BAP with Pilipinas Basketball, an association formed by the PBA, PBL, NCAA and UAAP.

The big lobby group that attended the meeting was composed of POC President Jose "Peping" Cojuangco, First Vice President, Rep. Monico Puentevella, Secretary-General Steve Hontiveros, PBA Chairman Ely Capacio, PBA Commissioner Noli Eala, PBL Commissioner Chino Trinidad, POC legal counsel Ding Tanjuatco, Ricky Vargas of Talk ’N Text, Jose Capistrano Jr. of the UAAP and Paul Supan of the NCAA.

Lina said he believes the BAP deserves consideration.

"The POC cannot and should not continuously ignore the BAP and its 50 member groups," he said in a statement released to media.

The former lawmaker, Cabinet member and provincial governor, now president of the historic Manila Hotel, noted that despite the polarity of these four organizations, their main concentration is only in Manila.

The continued impasse, Lina noted, is hurting a vast majority of the populace.

"Basketball is a national interest, and the division we continue to experience only causes disappointment and disdain from our countrymen who long to see the Philippines play basketball against the best teams in the world.

"Peace for the sake of understanding, solidarity leading to trust, openness leading to truthfulness: These are the traits that we must all espouse and embrace, for these will bring us closer to a consensus and to unity," he said. "Let us all be one, not for our sakes, but for the sake of all basketball-loving Filipinos."