MVP won’t seek reelection as SBP president

Manny V. Pangilinan. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Manny V. Pangilinan, the godfather of Philippine basketball, is set to step down as head of the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas.

Pangilinan, 69, said he would not run for a third term as president of the SBP owing to the eight-year limit by the national basketball body.

“I told the board that we should respect the rules. Rules which I myself helped to draft,” Pangilinan said in a press conference Thursday. “I’m not trying to tinker around the rules…it’s best I retire.”

READ: ‘Mapapaaway kami dito’: Gilas bus delayed for final against China

Pangilinan’s term should’ve ended on Feb. 25, 2015 but the SBP could not hold elections as the body was focused on the Philippines’ bid to host the 2019 Fiba World Cup and the 2015 Fiba Asia Championships.

“I don’t want to be violating the rules I have crafted, I think for that reason that we should follow the rules and as well as to prove to anybody else I’m not trying to tweak or tinker around the rules.

“We want to assure the public that it is not our desire to perpetuate the holdovers.”

READ: MVP: PH not planning to join in bidding to host Olympic qualifier

Along with Pangilinan, 13 holdovers are also set to relinquish their seats with the elections scheduled for January 2016.

Pangilinan said the change in SBP is to give way for a” new change in leadership and membership.”

“It’s a development,” Pangilinan said. “I think they should welcome it and I think the organization needs fresh blood, fresh insight and a fresh vision for Philippine basketball.”