Salud assumes post as deputy commissioner

MANILA, Philippines - Lawyer Chito Salud hopes to provide positive contributions that could help the local pro league reach greater heights as he officially assumes the position of PBA deputy commissioner today.

“I’m here to help and I’m ready to take any task the PBA board and the commissioner assign me. Hopefully, I could give positive contributions in making the league more dynamic and more responsive to the expectation of the PBA fans,” said Salud.

“I’m elated to have been invited again to join the PBA family. I’m extremely grateful to the board for giving me the trust and confidence,” added Salud after being introduced to the sportswriters regularly covering PBA games yesterday.

The eldest son of former PBA commissioner Rudy, Chito has risen from “ball boy” to deputy commissioner. He worked as ball boy in the league’s inception in 1975.

Commissioner Sonny Barrios presented Salud to the press, and he said he’s very fortunate to have the latter again joining him on board.

“To the question of when I will be stepping down, there’s no specific date. But with Chito on board, I can now pursue, without hesitation, my plans,” said Barrios, hinting he’s leaving his job soon.

“Two ways, I serve at the pleasure of the board and at my own pleasure,” Barrios also said, clarifying he’s the one who told the board he would serve on a year-to-year basis starting this season.

“Then board chairman Ricky Vargas was surprised and asked ‘may problema ba Com?’ I explained I just married off my two daughters. I want to enjoy my being grandfather soon,” Barrios, recalling what transpired in their planning session in Tagaytay last year.

Barrios said Salud could provide inputs on how to improve things for the future.

“We’ll tell him what we’re doing right now. I will handle all the things that are in place. I will give him future matters... how to improve technical, marketing and other departments,” said Barrios.

The newly designated deputy commissioner is back in the league for the third time after serving as league “ball boy” in 1975 and as consultant when Barrios came in as OIC in 2007.

“Being the league’s first ever ball boy becoming deputy commissioner, I can probably say I’ve gone a long way,” Salud said in jest.

Salud is optimistic he can do his job well specially having his father as adviser.

“When I informed him of the appointment, his advice was ‘make the league your own concern as if it’s your own family business. Love it and exercise judiciousness. Show competence, honesty and integrity.’ I can’t go wrong with that,” said Chito.

He’s on line to be the next commissioner ironically after failing to get the job in a search done by the league in 2007.

“I joined (the search then) with my eyes wide open. Knowing the qualification, obviously I didn’t meet it in terms of number needed,” he said.

“Right now my feeling is that of elation and I’m grateful to the PBA board. I’m looking forward to working with the board and the commissioner,” he added.