PBA unfair to Jaworski?

By Manolo Iñigo
Inquirer
Last updated 06:16am (Mla time) 10/16/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- The members of the Philippine Basketball Association board should nip in the bud a reported proposal to limit the age of their incoming commissioner to between 42 and 48 years old.

In my assessment, that proposal is flawed.

At this point, what the PBA needs is a commissioner who is older, a commissioner who is not only endowed with experience, but is also well-respected and known to the team owners, the players and, most of all, the fans, who are the backbone of the play-for-pay league.

Over the years, the PBA -- once the country’s most popular and prestigious sports organization -- has already lost some of its luster. The record will show that since 2003, when young and inexperienced people took over the PBA’s affairs, the league fell on hard times.

* * *

Most diehard fans now remember the PBA more for its failures than for its successes during the good old days when the much respected Leo Prieto was at the helm.

This time, I am keeping my fingers crossed that new league chair Tony Chua of Red Bull, the members of the board, the search committee and PBA officer-in-charge Sonny Barrios, would be able to make a successful turnaround for the league.

By the way, the search committee is slated to meet on Tuesday and discuss, among others, the proposal to limit the age of the new commissioner.

* * *

Two names have been mentioned as the leading candidates to become the PBA’s seventh commissioner, namely lawyer Chito Salud, son of well-admired lawyer Rudy Salud, who once served as PBA commissioner; and former Nextel Communications executive Lambert Ramos.

I would also like the committee to include in the list the names of several “oldies but goodies” such as former Sen. Robert Jaworski, local basketball’s “Living Legend” and ex-Olympian Freddie Webb, also a former senator like the Big J.

* * *

As a longtime follower of the PBA, I maintain that only the best and most experienced should be named as commissioner. And one of the most ideal choices is no other than Jaworski, who at 61 is still fit and trim.

Jaworski, then carrying Ginebra’s colors, quit the PBA in 1999 when he was 52, the oldest ever to play professional basketball anywhere in the world.

“I think it is a record that is very hard to duplicate,” said Paul Mortel of Marikina City.

Jaworski played for the Philippines in the Asian Games, the Olympics and the former Asian Basketball Confederation (now known as FIBA Asia championship). As a playing coach, Jaworski won four PBA titles, aside from mentoring the Philippine team to a silver-medal finish in the 1990 Beijing Asian Games.

* * *

Tired of broken promises, recent Manila visitor Kobe Bryant of the many-time NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers said he wants out. Bryant’s “falling out” with team owner Jerry Buss was further aggravated when the popular player referred to the 74-year-old Buss as an “idiot” in an amateur video.

Responding, Buss said: “I was a little surprised at him because, certainly, he’s never said anything to me like that. He’s always been very respectful to me.” He added that he hasn’t seen the video.

* * *

Belated congratulations to TY Tang, son of my esteemed friend Rey and his lovely wife Alice, for receiving the first ever Presidential Medal from De La Salle University.

Team captain of the Green Archers, Tang was cited by DLSU president Bro. Armin Luistro, FSC, “for living up to the ideals of a La Sallian student and athlete” during the recent UAAP victory celebrations at the school campus on Taft Avenue.

Tang received the medal from his proud grandmother Emilia.