MVP gives way as SBP president

MANILA, Philippines - Manny V. Pangilinan, under whose leadership Philippine basketball reached new heights in international fronts with impressive finishes in the FIBA World Cup and FIBA Asia Championships, is giving way to new cage leaders as his two four-year terms have expired.

MVP cited the SBP constitution drafted in 2006 which stipulated that the president and directors will serve an eight-year term limit. The SBP is to hold an election early next year.

“Having being present at the creation (of the charter) and with no desire to bend, staple or manipulate the rules, it is my conviction that I should not be an exception to it,” MVP said.

He added that he believed in a change in SBP leadership with young blood needed to refresh and revitalize the organization.

“All that said, I remain committed to Philippine basketball, to the SBPand its programs and to our Filipino fans here and abroad. I will continue to render my support, moral or financial.”

At the same time the outgoing SBP president reiterated he would not turn his “back on the many years that the SBP team has spent to build its foundation and shape its future.”

With MVP’s mandatory retirement as president, the SBP has set a special general assembly to elect a new set of officers in January.

Ricky Vargas, Bernie Atienza, Pete Alfaro, Danny Soria, Fr. Paul de Vera, Nick Jorge and Raul Alcoseba are seven other SBP board members whose terms of office have expired. They will serve on holdover capacity until January.

Chairman Oscar Moreno, Jay Adalem, Robert Uy, Vivian Manila and Rey Gamboa, meanwhile, will serve until June.

By June, 13 new faces sit on the board with 12 holdovers that included PBA representatives Robert Non and Chito Salud, and PBA D-League’s Erick Arejola.

From the new board of trustees will come the new SBP president.

“My term has expired February this year. We’re not able to call an election right away as we’re focused on two important events – the bidding for the 2019 FIBA World Cup and the FIBA Asia Championship,” said Pangilinan shortly after their board meeting at the PLDT office yesterday.

Under the SBP by-laws, Pangilinan is no longer qualified to run for a third term.

During yesterday’s meeting, Moreno raised a proposal to create the position “chairman emeritus” to be occupied by Pangilinan.

“He’s very reluctant. But for the sake of Philippine basketball, I hope Mr. Pangilinan accepts it,” said Moreno.

Vargas, the current vice chairman, said: “I’ll be joining MVP into oblivion.”

“We’ve brought basketball back in the heart of the Filipinos. We’re back as a competitive team in regional basketball,” said Vargas in mentioning two of SBP’s biggest achievements.