TOKYO—By the time the PBA delegation arrived in Tokyo on Sunday afternoon for the 41st Season’s first board meeting under new chair Robert Non of San Miguel Beer, the trauma of Aug. 7 was already starting to wear off.
Outgoing chair Pato Gregorio, governors Al Panlilio of Meralco, Mon Fernandez of NLEX, league president-CEO Chito Salud and media bureau chief Willie Marcial, who attended the final presentation of the country’s ill-fated bid to host the 2019 Fiba World Cup, were no longer wearing long faces.
After lunch, the governors went to work and by dinnertime, the meeting adjourned. Newly appointed commissioner Chito Narvasa and Kia governor Tom Alvarez, who replaced Gina Domingo, were introduced to the group.
Dressed in a dark business suit, everybody talked about how great Alvarez looked at 83. Those who know him attributed his energy to regular rounds of golf.
The new commissioner only needed a reintroduction. A former banker and Purefoods coach, Narvasa played for the eminent Virgilio “Baby” Dalupan in college at Ateneo. Dalupan used to say that as a player, Chito—his real name is Andres Jr.—was better than his brother Ogie. They are sons of the late former Supreme Court Chief Justice. Chito would have played for the national team had he not injured his knee in college.
That night during the post-dinner party, nobody was supposed to talk about what transpired during the board meeting. Salud was tasked with announcing the points discussed the next morning.
During Salud’s 10 a.m. press briefing, the league CEO said the major cause of concern during the previous days’ meeting was the 18-percent dip in revenues.
“First, we have to find out what caused it,” said Salud as he proceeded to enumerate the six crucial issues which the league plans to look into. He also announced that the league would come up with a five-year program.
It sounded a bit ambitious but the league plans, among others, to open a sports academy, separate D-Leagues for Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, a women’s league.
One urgent matter the governors want to settle, Salud said, is the league’s system of selecting and endorsing players for the national team.
Later during dinner on Day 2, we caught up with Mon Fernandez, who knew how Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president and tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan had taken the loss to China in the country’s bid to host the Fiba World Cup.
“Well, you know MVP’s attitude about these things,” said Fernandez. “No matter how bad and heartbreaking the situation looks, he believes something good will come out of it.”