It’s down to Gamboa, Eala, Narvasa in race for commissioner’s post

From nearly a dozen to six, then five and now only three.

The PBA board of governors is now looking at three candidates for the post to be vacated by commissioner Jun Bernardino with two more begging off from the race.

Former PBA board chair Ray Gamboa, Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines president Chito Narvasa and sportscaster-lawyer Noli Eala were left to dispute the PBA commissionership as former GMA top executive Bobby Barreiro and marketing mogul Felicito Feliciano declined the opportunity to assume one of the most influential positions in Philippine sports.

Barreiro said his heart still belongs to broadcasting while Feliciano said he knows nothing much about basketball as they took themselves out of the search for the top man.

Barreiro, Feliciano and former Ateneo player Tito Panlilio were included in the list of candidates for the commissionership on the suggestion of a "head-hunter" created by the board.

With Barreiro and Feliciano out, it’s certain the next commissioner will not come outside of the PBA unofficial family.

Both Gamboa and Narvasa worked for the Shell organization with the former a long-time representative to the board and the latter calling the shots for the team for two years. Eala has long been with the television team covering PBA games.

The three will present their programs and visions for the league in a meeting with the board at EDSA Shangri-La Plaza tomorrow.

The board is looking forward to name the new commissioner in the next few days.

Meanwhile, Purefoods and Shell clash in a knockout game while Sta. Lucia Realty fights for its own survival against San Miguel Beer in the final playdate of the Selecta PBA All-Filipino Cup eliminations at the Philsports Arena today.

The Hotdogs and the Turbochargers collide at 5:30 p.m. with the winner gaining a playoff berth or advancing right away to the quarterfinals if the Realtors lose to the Beermen in their 7:30 p.m. tiff.

Purefoods, Shell and Sta. Lucia are tied at sixth place with identical 3-5 win-loss cards heading to the closing playdate of the elims. They are left to dispute the last slot in the quarterfinals after Red Bull and San Miguel clinched the two outright semifinal slots while Coca-Cola, Alaska and Talk N Text took the first three seats in the quarters.

The Hotdogs, the Turbochargers and the Realtors are slugging it out for the right to play the Tigers in the quarters. The Aces and the Phone Pals mix it up in the other quarterfinals tussle.

With a 6-2 record, the Beermen may actually end up tied with the Tigers with similar 6-3 cards. In this scenario, San Miguel gains the outright semis seat on the winner-over-the-other rule.

In the semis, San Miguel plays the winner of the Alaska-Talk N Text duel and Red Bull goes up against either Coca-Cola, Purefoods, Shell or Sta. Lucia.

Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao said he has so much confidence with his players that he’s looking forward to score back-to-back championships after their Commissioner’s Cup conquest.