Jaworksi eyed for UAAP 77 basketball commissioner post

Robert Jaworski INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/Mark Giongco

MANILA, Philippines — Legend Robert Jaworski, and former commissioners Noli Eala, Joe Lipa, and Chino Trinidad were among those being considered to be the commissioner of UAAP season 77 men’s basketball competition.

Incoming UAAP secretary-treasurer Rod Roque of host University of the East bared at the UAAP season 76 closing ceremonies that those names were part of the 12-man list of candidates for the post.

“We’re still looking. We have 12 people on the list, then were going to narrow it down to a short list and the management will decide,” Roque told reporters in Filipino.

Jaworksi, before becoming one of the most popular names in basketball after his stint in the PBA both as player and coach, led the Warriors to two championships in the UAAP back in the 60s.

But the former senator hasn’t held any major basketball-related post since handling Ginebra and talks of his return to the PBA hasn’t materialized.

Roque, though, admitted that they have yet to speak about the job offer.

“Not yet, but we’re considering him,” he said.

The three others, who were being considered, meanwhile, are not new to the pressures of being commissioner.

Eala held PBA commissioner post before he took on a job as a San Miguel executive. Trinidad, also a sportscaster, used to be the head of the defunct PBL while Lipa served terms as the commissioner of the NCAA and the UAAP.

Roque also said that UE deputy coach Bai Cristobal, Barako Bull head mentor Bong Ramos and Tito Varela were in the list to succeed season 76 commissioner Chito Loyzaga.

The new season of the UAAP opens on July 12 with the anticipated basketball tournament.

Roque also said that there is a proposal on the table to transfer the juniors’ basketball tournament to the second semester, while the girls’ volleyball to the first semester.

“The basketball boys and the girls volleyball are not getting enough attention alongside the seniors’ basketball and volleyball.”

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