Capistrano named to SBP panel

The formation of the Samahang Basketball Pilipinas could well be completed by next week with UAAP’s Jose Capistrano Jr. designated as the new representative of Pilipinas Basketball in the three-man panel tasked to create a unified basketball body.

Pilipinas Basketball approved a resolution yesterday appointing Capistrano as acting president of the association in lieu of Bernie Atienza who resigned from the post following his retirement at St. Benilde.

Signing the resolution were PBA chairman Ricky Vargas, PBL commissioner Chino Trinidad, NCAA’s Paul Supan, NCAA-South’s Fr. Paul de Vera, WNCAA’s Vivian Manila, CESAFI’s Elmer Cabahug, NOPSSCEA’s Fr. Emilio Jaruda Jr., Zamboanga’s Pedro Alfaro, DBL’s Hubert Paz, Bicol’s Pedro Lee, Benguet’s Daniel Soria and SBP’s Nic Jorge.

Capistrano is joining business tycoon Manny Pangilinan and Basketball Association of the Philippines president Sen. Jinggoy Estrada to create the unified cage body that will seek recognition from the Philippine Olympic Committee.

Pilipinas Basketball officials are hopeful SBP will eventually be formed with Capistrano completing the three-man panel.

Upon SBP’s formation, PB and BAP will be dissolved pursuant to the joint communiqué forged by cage leaders in Tokyo, Japan last August. Up for confirmation are nominations of Pangilinan as SBP president, Estrada as chairman, Vargas as vice chairman and Lito Alvarez as treasurer.