Stakeholders form 12-man board for PABA election

MANILA, Philippines - Baseball stakeholders yesterday created a new 12-man board of trustees as first step towards the long-delayed reorganization and election of officers of the Philippine Amateur Baseball Association (PABA).

Representatives of 21 baseball clubs/ leagues took part as the PABA opened its doors to every stakeholder in the exercise in compliance with the Philippine Olympic Committee’s requirements.

The group installed Ely Baradas, Felipe Remollo, Martin Cojuangco, Pepe  Munoz, Raul Saberon, Norman Macasaet, Rich Cruz, Vince Alimurong, Kanifuni Itakura, Roselito Bernardo, Atty. Chuck Guinto and Mel Gecolea to the new board.

Three more slots will later be filled up, coming from clubs/leagues that weren’t able to attend yesterday’s general assembly.

The board decided to convene again on Saturday to elect the new PABA officers.

“Gusto lang namin ayusin na ang baseball.  Lahat naman kami ay talagang tumutulong sa baseball kaya magiging maayos na ito (All of us love baseball and we’ll work together for the good of the sport so we expect this to be a fruitful exercise),” said former PABA VP Baradas.

“This is the renaissance of baseball in the country,” said former chairman Tom Navasero, who presided over the assembly. “These people who attended the meeting truly love baseball and I believe they will strive hard to bring baseball to where it was before.”

The group will meet with POC officials to give an update on the PABA process, including the new constitution and by-laws that were already submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for approval, and request for a representative in Saturday’s voting.

Once everything’s in place, the new PABA execs will be busy preparing for the hosting of the East Asia Baseball Championship next month.

“Wala tayong ibang dapat gawin kungdi pagtulungan iyan. Kahit walang government funding kailangang ituloy dahil commitment ito ng bansa (We’ll have to work or that, with our without government support),” said Remollo.