OIC may be next commissioner

Whoever is named the PBA’s officer-in-charge to take over Noli Eala’s functions on an interim basis may be the next commissioner.

PBA chairman Ricky Vargas said the OIC and Eala’s successor could be one and the same. It all depends on how the OIC performs and who are the other candidates in the pool that appears to be getting larger by the day.

The OIC will be appointed in tomorrow’s Board of Governors meeting and no doubt, becomes the leading contender as the PBA’s seventh commissioner since 1975 after Leo Prieto, Mariano Yenko, Rudy Salud, Rey Marquez, Jun Bernardino and Eala. He’ll have a foot in the door for the job.

There were 19 candidates for OIC. Vargas presided in a three-  hour Executive Board meeting to short list the nominees to five last Thursday. Incoming chairman Tony Chua of Red Bull, treasurer Lito Alvarez of Air21 and incoming vice-chairman Joaqui Trillo of Alaska attended the meeting.

The 19 candidates were Ed Picson, Rickie Santos, Chot Reyes, Ricky Palou, Virgil Villavicencio, Aton Atilano, Chito Salud, Sonny Barrios, Elmer Yanga, Bert Manlapit, Freddie Webb, Ed Cordero, Ronnie Nathanielsz, Chino Trinidad, Fritz Gaston, Lambert Ramos, Chito Narvasa, Al Panlilio and Philip Cezar.

Vargas said the qualifications for OIC included immediate stature, familiarity with the PBA, willingness to work as OIC on an interim basis and ability to provide added value in terms of performance in the transition process. He said the Board welcomed candidates from all over and even considered professionals with no sports background.

The five who made it to the short list were Webb, Barrios, Cordero, Gaston and Ramos.

Vargas clarified that a new list of candidates will be made in choosing the next commissioner. The list will likely include Robert Jaworski. With the appointment of an OIC, the Board will not be pressured to rush a decision on Eala’s successor. Vargas said the selection process could take one to three months with the OIC expected to serve at least for one conference.

Webb was informed of his nomination in a breakfast meeting with Vargas, Chua and Trillo in Makati last Friday.

If appointed OIC, Webb said he will not stand in the way of a better man who could be next in line as commissioner.

“Just to be able to help in an interim capacity is already a distinct honor,” said Webb. “I don’t want to be a source of dissension. Nobody has to fight for me. I know I can handle the job. But if there’s a better man out there ready to take over, I’ll willingly step aside. I want the Board to choose the best man for the job. I’m grateful to be even considered for the OIC position.”

Vargas said the choice of commissioner will consider a background in corporate management. “In the long-term, we will transform the PBA into a corporation with a president and commissioners for marketing and operations,” he disclosed. “While the OIC is a stop-gap measure, whoever is named will be a logical candidate for commissioner. It’s not a trial period because the OIC will serve a different purpose.”

Looming as a darkhorse candidate for the permanent job is ex-commissioner Rudy Salud’s son Chito, a lawyer and former president of the National Home Mortgage Finance Corp. Salud, 45, brings solid credentials, youth and fresh enthusiasm to the table, not to mention his father’s expert guidance.

Rene Pardo, who retired from Purefoods as an executive last year but was asked by management to continue as the company’s representative in the PBA Board, declined an offer to be considered for the OIC position.

“It’s true I turned it down when the other governors nominated me,” said Pardo who worked 21 years for Purefoods. “Much as I feel honored by their offer, I think I’m not the right person for the job.”

Pardo is well-respected in the basketball community.