Ricky Vargas is new PBA chairman

PBA chairman Ricky Vargas. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net

After seven long years, Ricky Vargas is back in the PBA.

The soft-spoken executive has been installed as the chairman for the 43rd season of the PBA after a special board meeting Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“I was gone for seven years, but now I’m back,” he said in an impromptu press conference before the opening ceremonies.

Vargas’ chairmanship signals a new beginning for the league, with the executive guaranteeing better days ahead.

”We’re back together, stronger than ever.”

He also shared that all 12 governors exhausted efforts in finding a compromise to make the league work after going through the issue which hounded the league over the past two months

“I’d like to thank some people who made us stronger than ever and never gave up during the crisis the PBA underwent a couple of months ago. One is (Ginebra governor) Alfrancis Chua who was always there and looking for solutions, (Kia governor) Bobby Rosales who also never gave up, (Meralco governor) Al Panlilio who was beside me as we worked towards a resolution, and (former TNT governor) Pato Gregorio who unlocked this using his magic to reach an agreement between both parties,” he said.

Narvasa has also tendered his resignation, but was asked by the Board to stay until the end of the year to help with the transition period. Communications and external affairs director Willie Marcial has been appointed as the officer-in-charge.

NLEX governor Ramoncito Fernandez was supposed to be the chairman for the 43rd season by virtue of him serving as the league’s vice chair last season. But Vargas explained that NLEX and TNT swapped their terms, paving the way to his assumption for the role.

“NLEX so graciously gave way. There was a swap between NLEX and TNT, where NLEX graciously gave the opportunity to be the chair for this year in exchange for TNT getting the slot (in our term),” he said.

Aside from Vargas, Alaska governor Dickie Bachmann has been elected as the vice chairman, while Phoenix governor Raymond Zorrilla is the new treasurer for the 43rd season.

With the PBA moving past this storm, Vargas said that the league can bring its focus back on what it does best which is to deliver world-class games highlighting the Filipino talent.

“We’re stronger than ever and we will stay like that as we begin the healing parties. This is all for the fans,” he said.

The last time Vargas assumed the post as league chairman was back in the 2006-07 season.