PBA commissioner prospects pruned down to five Wednesday

The board of governors of the Philippine Basketball Association will prune down the list of candidates for league commissioner from 20 to as few as five Wednesday.

League chair Patrick Gregorio of PLDT said Tuesday that representatives of all the team owners will decide who will make the short list during a special meeting at 5 p.m. where they will hear the report of the headhunting firm hired by the board to interview prospects.

Rey Canilao of Global Solutions will talk about the selection process.

“We want everybody to understand and appreciate this rigorous search process,” Gregorio told the Inquirer yesterday.

Gregorio declined to name the candidates, though the Inquirer learned that PBA personalities Andy Jao, former Sta. Lucia governor Ariel Magno, coach Ryan Gregorio, Franz Pumaren, Philippine Sports Commissioner Jolly Gomez, among others, have been interviewed.

Gregorio talked to Global Solutions but begged off from being considered.

Jao looms to be a strong candidate with his vast experience in the game, having served as commissioner during the glory days of the defunct Philippine Amateur Basketball League before running the UAAP for two years.

Also in the initial list is broadcaster Charlie Cuna, a lawyer.

The search started after commissioner Chito Salud announced close to two months ago that he was stepping down at the end of the season.