Noli's advice to Chito

It was a meeting reminiscent of a similar get-together seven years ago involving a former PBA commissioner and the new man on the job.

In 2003, the pro league’s third commissioner Rudy Salud brought along his son Chito to break bread with Noli Eala, then newly designated as the sixth commissioner, at the Summer Palace restaurant in the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel, Mandaluyong.

Last week, Eala met up with the league’s newly appointed eighth commissioner – Chito Salud – at the UCC café in the Podium. Eala was accompanied by their common friend, former PBA technical group manager and now Laoag City administrator Perry Martinez.

Eala recalled what Salud, the father, advised during their meeting.

“How providential was it that in 2003, I met with Attorney Salud and Chito was present,” said Eala. “And now, it was my turn as a former commissioner to advise Chito. Attorney Salud advised me to be firm, to always uphold the interest of the fans as a primordial goal. He explained how important it was for me to establish good relations with team owners and the PBA Board of Governors. Chito heard what his father advised so I didn’t have to repeat what was mentioned. Attorney Salud’s advice to me seven years ago remains relevant today.”

Eala had his own advice for the new commissioner.

“There were four things I wanted to impart,” said Eala. “First, I advised Chito to be independent in his decision-making. Second, I asked him to work out a budget for his office, an automatic appropriation from the revenues the league will have earned from his term. It will be performance-based, a percentage of income. That will give him financial independence. He won’t have to court the Board for funds because the budget is an automatic allocation based on performance. Third, he should have full authority to decide on game-related issues and conduct of play. The Board may be consulted but he must make the final decisions on game-related issues to avoid conflicts of interest. It must be an exclusive and sole jurisdiction that is not appealable. Finally, he must be given a fixed term, a tenure so that he is able to set a direction for his career, so he has leeway to plan for the future.”

* * * *

Eala said he was invited by Salud to attend the PBA opening at the Araneta Coliseum on Oct. 3. “Chito wants me to sit beside his father during the ceremonies,” said Eala. “It would be my honor.”

Eala said meeting with Salud, the son, was like a reunion of old friends.

“Chito and I were batchmates at the Ateneo and classmates in some subjects,” said Eala. “I was ahead of him at law school, though. We used to play basketball in pick-up games and intramurals.”

Martinez, their common friend, arranged the meeting. Once being groomed as commissioner of the PBL-Liga merger, he now works with Laoag City Mayor Mike Farinas. Martinez remains SBP head of the technical commission and continues to relate closely with referees particularly in their development program.

As SBP executive director, Eala said he was interested to find out Salud’s opinion about the PBA supporting the national team by lending players for specific international competitions.

“I was told the PBA Board will take up the issue in its planning meeting in Bangkok (starting today),” said Eala. “The SBP has officially asked for certain players to reinforce Smart-Gilas in the coming Asian Games. No formal reply yet. Apparently, the Board is divided on the issue. There are governors who feel the PBA can’t run away from helping the national team.”

For his part, Salud said he will submit a schedule, for the PBA Board’s review, of how many league games the players being requested by Smart-Gilas could miss if they see action in Guangzhou. It may come down to missing just two games with adjustments in the calendar. Powerade’s Asi Taulava, Talk ‘N’ Text’s Kelly Williams and B-Meg’s James Yap are in Smart-Gilas coach Rajko Toroman’s wish list for the Asiad.

* * * *

Meanwhile, Salud disclosed the tournament format for the second and third conferences this season.

The second conference will bring in imports with a height limit of 6-4. The teams play a single round then the last four are booted out. The remaining six play another round where the top two finishers figure in the best-of-7 finals. As an incentive, a team that wins at least four games in the round-of-six gains a playoff for a finals ticket.

In the third conference, an import handicapping system will be applied where the top four teams of the previous tilt are limited to a 6-2 import, the next four to 6-4 and the last two to 6-6. The playing format will be the same as the second conference.

“The format for the season is very exciting,” said Salud. “We’re bringing the passion back. Our referees will try to be as unobtrusive as possible, working in the background and letting the players play and the game flow. With our new philosophy of officiating, the teams with the physically fit and fundamentally sound players, the teams that are able to execute their plays efficiently will prevail. That’s how every game will be decided and that’s how it should be.”