MVP’s term extended for 4 months

MANILA, Philippines – Businessman-sportsman Manny V. Pangilinan serves as president of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas for at least four more months as the SBP board agreed to move its election of officers from January to April for practical purposes.

In a meeting Wednesday at the PLDT office in Makati, the SBP board approved the election postponement also so as not to hinder preparation for possible hosting by the federation of the Olympic world qualifier in July.

Pangilinan and seven others, serving on holdover capacity, were to step down in January. By April, five more board members would have completed two four-year terms.

The board decided to postpone the January election to have a single election of officers in April.

“Even then MVP offered to leave his position vacant (from January to April) because he’s sensitive to allegation that he’s hanging on to his position. But the ‘so-called rebel group’ themselves asked MVP to stay on,” said The STAR source.

“In a way, this group extended their stay in the board,” the same source added.

Ricky Vargas, Bernie Atienza, Pete Alfaro, Danny Soria, Fr. Paul de Vera, Nick Jorge and Raul Alcoseba are the seven other SBP board members serving on holdover capacity.

Chairman Oscar Moreno, Jay Adalem, Robert Uy, Vivian Manila and Rey Gamboa, meanwhile, will serve until April.

By June, 13 new faces sit on the board with 12 holdovers that include PBA representatives Robert Non and Chito Narvasa, and PBA D-League’s Erick Arejola.

From the new board of trustees will come the new SBP president.

Under the SBP by-laws, Pangilinan is no longer qualified to run for another term.

The next SBP board meeting is Jan. 29 where the current leadership reports the result of the FIBA executive board meeting in Geneva on Jan. 19.

The FIBA is to decide on which countries will host the three Olympic world qualifying tourney and on the draw.

The Philippines and five European countries are in the running for the hosting job of the event slated July 4-10.