Manny V. Pangilinan. INQUIRER.net file photo
Basketball’s most valuable patron is ready to pass on the leadership of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.
SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan announced Thursday he would step down early next year, paving the way for a new breed of leaders to take over the management of the country’s most prominent sport.
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“It signals a new change of leadership and it’s a development I think we should welcome,” said Pangilinan in a press conference held at the PLDT offices in Makati City.
“The organization needs fresh blood, fresh insight and fresh vision for Philippine basketball.”
Pangilinan’s second term as SBP head expired last Feb. 25, but the telecommunications and utilities magnate stayed on a holdover capacity to address a pair of significant concerns—the Philippine bid to host the 2019 Fiba World Championship won by China and the just-concluded Fiba Asia Championship also in China.
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The Gilas Pilipinas men’s basketball squad came short of punching a ticket to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics after losing the gold medal to the Chinese.
According to SBP chair Oscar Moreno, the 25-man board of trustees will convene in a special meeting in January 2016 to elect a new president.
“A holdover is not wrong. In fact, it is important to ensure that there’s no hiatus. A holdover is necessary because otherwise what will happen to the organization without its leaders?” said Moreno.
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Also present during the presser were SBP vice president Al Panlilio, executive director Sonny Barrios and SBP vice chair Ricky Vargas, who will also relinquish his post in January along with Pangilinan.
“I’m no longer eligible (to run). I told the board and the chairman that we should respect the rules which I helped craft way back in 2006,” said Pangilinan.
“I think it’s best that I retire. We will help the new board find a new president to continue the work we’ve started,” added Pangilinan.
Under the watch of Pangilinan, who owns Talk ‘N Text, Meralco and NLEX in the PBA, the national men’s team flourished with the formation of the Gilas squad.
The Nationals finished fourth in the 2011 Asian Championship in Wuhan and placed second in the 2013 edition in Manila to qualify for the Fiba World Championship for the first time in over three decades last year.