Search for the big boss

By: Gerry Ramos
People's Journal
September 27, 2007

MACAU – The Philippine Basketball Association is taking no chances in the search for its next commissioner, forming a five-man selection committee that will be in-charge of picking the right guy to call the shots for the league.

PBA chairman Tony Chua was named head of the body that includes as members Joaqui Trillo of Alaska, Robert Non of San Miguel, Lito Alvarez of Air21 and former chairman and Talk ‘N Text Board representative Ricky Vargas.

The committee is the one tasked to draw up the guidelines and criteria on the possible qualification of the next commissioner of Asia’s first ever play-for-pay league.

The group is expected to sit down and begin discussion on the parameter of the selection upon returning to Manila this weekend, but stressed that the standard it will set upon is still subject to the approval of the PBA Board.

However, integrity, good moral character, managerial skills and knowledge of the sport are among the criteria being considered by the committee.

Renauld ‘Sonny’ Barrios, a long-time key official of the league who served as executive director under the term of the late commissioner Jun Bernardino, was tapped as Officer In-Charge of the league to replace Noli Eala, a position he will be holding only until the end of the season-opening Philippine Cup.

‘That’s why this early we’re already putting into place the possible direction the league will be taking halfway into the 2007-08 season,” said Chua shortly
after the first day of the Board’s annual meeting and planning session here.

Barrios, along with former Senator Freddie Webb, current NCAA men’s basketball tournament commissioner Chito Narvasa, UAAP counterpart Ed Cordero, RP women’s team head coach Fritz Gaston and Nextel’s Lambert Ramos were among the key personalities earlier considered for the job vacated by Eala.

But none among them will be included in the list this time, not unless they meet the qualifications drawn by the selection panel.

“It’s a clean slate right now. Not until we come up with the criteria approved by the Board will the formal search for the PBA commissioner begins,” stressed the Red Bull team manager.

This developed as the next league honcho may soon be referred either as commissioner or president should plans to restructure the PBA into a corporation pushes through.