Salud cites Ang, Segismundo

MANILA, Philippines - With the chapter of the PBA’s 39th season now ended, commissioner Chito Salud paid tribute the other day to San Miguel Corp. president Ramon S. Ang and outgoing league chairman Ramon Segismundo of Meralco for their role in the success.

Salud said Ang was the chief architect in San Mig Coffee’s historic Grand Slam with his vision, all-out support and hands-on management style. At the PBA Press Corps Awards Night last Thursday, Ang was honored as the Executive of the Year. Salud thanked Ang for his personal and professional support, particularly in backing up the Gilas program that brought four San Miguel Group players to the national squad and required a major adjustment in the PBA’s schedule. The four San Miguel Group players are JunMar Fajardo of San Miguel Beer, Marc Pingris of San Mig Coffee and Japeth Aguilar and L. A. Tenorio of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.

Ang never touched on his achievements that led to the Press Corps award in acceptance remarks and instead, lauded Cone for his efforts. “This is your night,” Ang told Cone whom he described as the best coach he’s ever seen. Ang even said Cone could coach in the NBA and win a Grand Slam in the world’s No. 1 professional league. Ang made time in his busy schedule to stay with the Press Corps and guests until the end of the program, posing for pictures, talking basketball with players and the media. One of the country’s most prominent captains of industry came across as a humble and gracious “friend of basketball and friend of sports.”

As for Cone, he was overwhelmed by a written message sent by coach Baby Dalupan whose record of 15 championships he has eclipsed. In the 1990 best-of-five Third Conference Finals, Dalupan and Cone faced off. It was Cone’s first Finals appearance while Dalupan, a Grand Slam coach in 1976 with Crispa, worked in his last. Cone, coaching Alaska, raced to a 2-0 lead but Dalupan, coaching Purefoods, won in the end, 3-2. In his written message, Dalupan said he knew as that series went on, Cone would someday become a great coach in the PBA. Dalupan’s prediction has come true as now, Cone is the only PBA coach with a record 18 championships and the only two-time Grand Slam winner.

Cone said he was recently in Washington, D. C. to attend a Filipino community affair and met up with Dalupan’s daughter Cecile. He said he spoke at the affair and recognized Dalupan as a legend in PBA coaching. Dalupan, 90, said in his message, that while now blind, he still listens to the TV coverage of the PBA games and is overjoyed by Cone’s achievements. Cone said he is excited to write the foreword in a coming book on Dalupan’s life.

Salud also said Segismundo’s direction was a major reason why the PBA flourished last season despite shortening the calendar to allow more training time for Gilas. The Finals of the Commissioner’s Cup and Governors Cup were both reduced to best-of-five affairs, cutting into attendance and revenue figures. The sacrifice was worth it for flag and country.

Throughout his term, Segismundo stressed the theme of One PBA. “It’s about democratization and league expansion,” he said. “One Philippines is the PBA-Gilas synergy and the campaign in the Spain.” Before the season began, Segismundo predicted that expansion was imminent because of a growing economy, sustained victories by Gilas in the global arena and interest among companies that drive values of democratization, diversity and inclusiveness in the league.

With Segismundo paving the way, the PBA opened its doors to new expansion clubs Kia Motors and Blackwater Sports. The league also adjusted its calendar to accommodate Gilas’ campaign in the FIBA World Cup. The PBA Board of Governors will witness the Philippines in action in Group B in Seville starting Aug. 30 and will hold a special meeting to review the past season and lay out the groundwork for the 40th anniversary with incoming chairman Patrick Gregorio of Talk ‘N’ Text while in Spain.

Salud issued this statement on Segsimundo: “I noticed straight away, he came in with a clear vision of the PBA he wants to see under his chairmanship: A PBA that will play a critical role in our national team’s destiny, a PBA that will be strong and united in every issue while focused on solutions for continuous improvement and a PBA whose growing momentum he will hand over to the next chairman intact if not even surging ahead. All these chairman Mon accomplished in his quiet, determined manner by working with and through people, most certainly with me, in a way one cannot but admire and marvel. ‘Simple lang pero achiever to the last drop’ is my best description. I am blessed to have partnered with such a gifted chairman.”

The PBA opened last year with inaugural games in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The first bill at the Smart Araneta Coliseum drew 20,298 fans last Nov. 17. The final day of the season had a crowd of 23,234 attending Game 5 of the PBA Governors Cup title series between San Mig Coffee and Rain Or Shine last July 9. During the Philippine Cup, the PBA registered an all-time high attendance of 24,883 for Game 7 of the semifinal series between Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and San Mig Coffee. The record broke the mark of 23,436 set in 2013 in Game 3 of the Commissioner’s Cup Finals between Ginebra and Alaska.

Last season was marked by several milestones, including the midseason replacement of Richie Ticzon by Pido Jarencio as Globalport coach, Ato Agustin by Jeff Cariaso as Ginebra coach and Luigi Trillo by Alex Compton as Alaska coach, the emergence of Fajardo as MVP, the return of James Yap as back-to-back Finals MVP in the Commissioner’s and Governors Cup, the coverage on TV5 and Cignal Digital High Definition and the record contribution of coach Yeng Guiao to the PBA Players Welfare Fund. It was an incredible prelude to the PBA’s 40th ruby anniversary starting Oct. 19.