With PBA running smoothly: Barrios decides to leave 'sooner'

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Basketball Association commissioner Renauld “Sonny” Barrios is pursuing his exit plan with the current PBA season entering the playoff phase.

Barrios, the league’s sixth commissioner, said he’s now looking to proceed with his personal affairs, confident he’s leaving the league in good hands.

He said he’s stepping down “sooner than later.”

“The adjustment, orientation and familiarization of deputy commissioner Chito Salud are running without curbs. In fact, he and I, together with the management group, have agreed that I will focus on the ongoing tourney and he focuses on everything that will take place past beyond,” said Barrios.

“He’s actively involved in the preparation for the annual draft, rookie camp, rookie draft, and all the way to the pre-season tournament and opening ceremonies,” Barrios added.

“By July, he’ll start the budget planning for the next fiscal year. I will sit down only on the first meeting to explain how we crafted the current budget so he gets a good idea how to craft the next fiscal year budget.”

Barrios said he’s bidding the PBA goodbye to enjoy his senior years. He’s 62.

“I informed the PBA board of my plans as early as June last year. It’s exactly a year ago. Not being melodramatic, I was affected by the passing of commissioner Jun Bernardino and (former PBA legal counsel) Atty. Butch Cleofe. They both died at 59,” said Barrios.

The PBA top honcho also explained his plan to spend more time with his family.

“When I mentioned to the board that I’m now looking at my stay (as commissioner) on a year-to-year basis, the board’s reaction was ‘is there a problem Com?’ I told them none, then explained my personal plans,” he said.

“I just married off two daughters then and my son was to get married in December. And he did. I want to be a grand father sooner than later and I want to enjoy my senior years,” he added.

Barrios also mentioned the family business awaiting him in the United States. His family is running a care facility for the developmentally disabled in Sacramento, California.

“Deputy commissioner Chito Salud is well prepared to take over. I, on the other hand, am pursuing our business expansion plan. We’re looking to open another care home also in Sacramento,” he said.

Barrios humbly believed he did well in his stint as PBA commissioner, mentioning two big corporations now hoping to join the pro league.

“They won’t be interested in the PBA if they see that it’s not run properly,” he said.

He’s been PBA commissioner the last three years, rescuing the league when former commissioner Noli Eala stepped down and when the league board couldn’t get the right number to appoint either Salud or Lambert Ramos.

He’d also served as acting commissioner when Bernardino got sick in 2001. He did well then and was named Executive of the Year during the season end’s PBA Press Corps Awards.