Lipa tapped new NC commish

The National Collegiate Athletic Association will name Joe Lipa as the league’s Season 84 basketball commissioner.

NCAA Management Committee chair Ding Lozano of host Mapua yesterday said Lipa would most likely be picked as league commissioner because of his past experience as one and his technical expertise in the sport.

“There’s a high percentage that coach Joe Lipa will  be our choice to become the NCAA commissioner because of his experience and technical know-how,” Lozano, who took over from Paul Supan of Jose Rizal, told The STAR.

Lipa’s appointment marked his return to the 84-year-old league he once served as its commissioner three years back when Letran College was host.

After his stint, Lipa returned to coaching and handled the University of the Philippines Maroons but it didn’t turn out good. He was later tapped by Philippine Basketball League commissioner Chino Trinidad as consultant of the Harbour Centre-backed RP team that eventually copped the gold medal in last year’s Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.

Lipa would replace Ogie Narvasa, head of the Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines who was chosen by last year’s host Jose Rizal. – Joey Villar