PBA: Pick new CEO or go back to old setup?

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Basketball Association clarified yesterday that PBA board chairman Robert Non is taking over the position of league president/CEO by January on acting capacity “without compensation.”

The PBA also stressed the board chair will concurrently hold the presidency on  temporary basis or until they find a suitable replacement to Chito Salud who has resigned effective at the end of the year.

Or they may not fill up the position at all, with the PBA possibly reverting back to its old structure where only the commissioner runs the affairs of the league.

Immediate past chairman Patrick Gregorio and vice chairman Erick Arejola were also offered to assume the job.

“The vice chairman declined, saying he’s very busy. Mr. Gregorio, meanwhile, said he can’t make an answer right away as he’s also busy,” said PBA media bureau chief Willie Marcial.

There was a consensus for the board chair to be the concurrent president/CEO during the PBA special board meeting Thursday.

“There are netizens reacting why from San Miguel again? Mr. Gregorio himself has said it’s not about the personality. It’s based on the structure,” said Marcial.

Blackwater’s Silliman Sy, Rain or Shine’s Mert Mondragon and Barako Bull’s Manny Alvarez batted for the current chairman when the immediate past chairman and the current vice chair declined.

They said it’s the normal procedure in the corporate world.

Non said they asked Salud to reconsider, but he was firm in his decision to step down.

“I talked to him Tuesday asking him if he can stay on until the end of the season and, later on, until the end of the all-Filipino tourney. But he’s really decided,” said Non.

Even with the resignation of Salud, the board decided to pursue the new set-up where a commissioner runs the game while a president runs the business side of the league.

“They want to see the result at least after the all-Filipino conference,” said Marcial.