Salud reportedly thought of resigning much earlier

While the announcement that Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner Angelico “Chito” Salud was stepping down after the season caught many by surprise, some quarters claim that was only a matter of time.

Even during Season 39, Salud would confide to a few about “going out while on top.”

“He has achieved what he set out to do,” said our source. “Attendance was at an all-time high, ratings were very good, awareness as a brand had grown by leaps and bounds, and there was the FIBA success.”

The source also claims that he thought that Salud would step down after Season 41. “But the end of the milestone Season 40 sounds too good to pass up. It is the perfect time.”

The PBA Board of Governors reportedly asked Salud to take a six-month vacation if he felt burned out due to the almost non-stop activity that also included the PBA’s commitment to international duty. But Salud would hear none of it as he said he felt that it was time to move on.

A press conference where Salud will announce his resignation is scheduled during halftime of the first game between Global Port Batang Pier and the Meralco Bolts at the Mall of Asia ArenaSunday, February 15. The PBA Board of Governors is supposed to be in full force to show support for Salud who will finish the season while training his successor.

By the end of Season 40, Salud will have served for five years; one more year than his late father Rodrigo Salud who was PBA Commissioner from 1988-1992.

The late Atty. Salud also served at a time when international basketball opened its doors to professionals. The first all-pro Philippine Team that participated in the 1990 Asian Games finished second after six previous tournaments where the country fell from first in 1962 to sixth four years later.

Under Commissioner Chito’s watch, the all-pro Philippine team finished second in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championships; it’s the country’s best since winning it all in 1985.