explanation by POC President Jose Cojuangco about the reasons for the BAP expulsion. Agreement in Hong Kong Two days before Christmas, Estrada and Pangilinan agreed on a power sharing that could result in the end of the FIBA suspension. Under the agreement, Estrada will be named as the SBP Chairman while Pangilinan will be named SBP President. Both also agreed on Ricky Vargas, the Talk N' Text Phone Pals Governor and Pangilinan's business aide and Lito Alvarez, the Air21 Express Governor and one of the key figures in the BAP, to be given positions in the association. The move was lauded by many within the basketball community and gave hope for the possible return of the Philippines in international competitions. BAP fires Estrada In early-January 2007, the BAP rejected the agreement between Pangilinan and Estrada, citing "Estrada's cooperating with Pilipinas Basketball move without consultation from the BAP". On January 6, 2007, the BAP released a press statement announcing the firing of Estrada as its BAP president. The position was declared vacant with Christian Tan named as interim president. The move was blasted by PBA Commissioner Noli Eala and PBL Commissioner Chino Trinidad. Senator Estrada, however, remained with the SBP to continue to formation of the association and even went to Geneva along with a group led by Pangilinan and Eala to talk with FIBA Secretary-General Patrick Baumann about the SBP's progress. Baumann responded by saying that the suspension will be lifted once a new organization is formed through a Basketball Unity Congress. The BAP then hired track-and-field president Go Teng Kok as their BAP President. Rumors also surfaced that the BAP had intended to boycott the Unity Congress and to issue a TRO but the rumors where denied by the 70-year organization. Unity Congress A week before the unity congress, both BAP and PB separately went to Bangkok for talks with Baumann and FIBA-Asia representatives. After talks between leaders of both the BAP and the PB, the two groups agreed to settle differences and moved ahead with the congress. On February 5, 2007, the Unity Congress was held formally electing Pangilinan as its president. The event was graced by members of the BAP, PB, the Philippine Olympic Committee, and a host of observers that included Baumann, who issued a statement saying the suspension has been lifted pending approval by the POC as its NSA for basketball. As part of the