MVP a cinch to stay on as basketball president

SPORTS patron Manny V. Pangilinan is expected to get another term unopposed as president of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas when the country’s governing body for the sport holds its election on Friday at Meralco multipurpose hall in Pasig City.

All 65 voting members from the regions and leagues all over the country are set to participate in the SBP national congress and reelect Pangilinan, who also stands as “godfather” of amateur boxing, badminton and taekwondo, among other sports, to another four-year term.

The voters will first choose the 25 board of trustees members who will then pick the president, chair, vice chair, treasurer and the heads of the different commissions.

The other incumbent officials are Misamis Oriental Gov. Oscar Moreno (chair), Maynilad president Ricky Vargas (vice chair), and Ernesto Adalem (treasurer).

“I haven’t heard of anyone who wants to challenge Mr. Pangilinan,” said SBP executive director Sonny Barrios. “He will run unopposed.”

Under Pangilinan, the Philippines finished fourth in the 2011 Fiba Asia Championship, the best finish by the Nationals since placing fourth in the 1987 Asian Championship in Bangkok.

Smart Gilas Pilipinas is poised to pull off another breakthrough when the Nationals see action in this year’s Asian championship in Lebanon.