Salud sees more viable, exciting PBA

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Basketball Association, under new commissioner Chito Salud, will instill among game officials a new officiating philosophy in a bid to make the games more exciting and competitive.

Salud foresees quality games under the new system when the 2010-2011 pro league’s season unfolds next month.

Even with the PBA Hong Kong planning session shelved, Salud assumed yesterday the league’s commissionership as approved by the PBA board in a previous executive session.

A resolution prepared by PBA executive secretary Melvin Mendoza will make the round of PBA governors to formally appoint Salud new commissioner, according to PBA board chair Rene Pardo.

Chito, son of the eminent former commissioner Atty. Rodrigo, has taken over from Renauld “Sonny” Barrios who stepped down from his office Monday.

In an exclusive interview with The STAR, the young Salud stressed the interest of fans would be primordial in the dispatch of his duties in the league.

“My main responsibility is on making our product more attractive. That’s the main focus of the PBA office,” said Salud.

“The main mission is to maintain the league’s commercial viability. Our game has to be able to meet the expectation of the fans. We have to give the fans exciting games so that they will continue patronizing the PBA,” Salud added.

In connection with his goal, Salud said officiating would be used as a tool to help improve the quality of the games.

“We’ll instill in the referees the kind of game philosophy that we have in mind. Their roles are not to make bad calls. They have to let the players play, show their wares and make the game free flowing. I think that’s what the fans want,” said Salud.

“I don’t want our refs to get in the way of the game. They have to be unobtrusive as much as possible, letting the players run the plays designed by the coaches, not make questionable calls,” Salud added.

The new league chief also intends to have a dialogue with the coaches and media partners regarding his officiating policy.

“There’s no perfectly officiated game. There would always be room for improvement for officiating. What we want to achieve is consistency. Even if it’s not 100 percent, what I want is fair and honest officiating,” Salud said.

In his first day in office as commissioner, Salud said he’s thankful to his predecessor’s helping hand.

“Commissioner Barrios taught me what I needed to know. He showed me the road for three months. Thanks really to commissioner Barrios’ assistance and graciousness,” said Salud, the league’s eighth commissioner after Leo Prieto, Mariano Yenko, his father, Rey Marquez, Jun Bernardino, Noli Eala and Barrios.

The new commissioner believed he inherited a staff capable of helping him in his mission.

“Everyone’s capable and we’ll tap their full potential. We’ll do the adjustments as we go along the way,” said Salud.