Salud resigns as pro league head, CEO

MANILA, Philippines - Chito Salud yesterday resigned as PBA president and CEO effective at the end of the year, prompting the PBA board of governors to call an emergency meeting tomorrow.

“The organizational structure of the PBA as we have envisaged is already in place. The handover to the new commissioner has been smoothly executed. And the board under chairman Robert Non’s leadership continues to be as it is – a source of strength, stability and continuity as the PBA charts its way forward,” said Salud.

“It is for these reasons that I believe the time is right for me to move on, confident as I am that I have already made my modest contributions to the critical transition into this current PBA season,” Salud added.

Board chairman Non immediately called a meeting after receiving the surprise letter of resignation yesterday noon.

“There are many possibilities but I can’t say yet what will happen. We have to hear first the proposals and recommendations of the governors,” Non told The STAR.

Salud tendered his resignation shortly after his return from New Zealand where he led a PBA delegation that showcased a “legends game.”

His resignation came as a surprise as he didn’t last a season attending the new position created by the league upon his earlier resignation as commissioner of the league.

Chito Narvasa has taken the spotlight as he oversees the games as the new commissioner.

“I can only guess he might feel he’s useless during a PBA season. He presides in the planning session but takes the backseat when the season starts,” said a PBA governor.

Last season, he completed his fifth term as the eighth PBA commissioner, succeeding Sonny Barrios in 2010.

He announced his plan to resign in February but before resignation took effect, he’s prevailed upon by the league board to accept a different post.

In Puerto Princesa during the All-Star Week last May, Salud agreed to stay on in the league as president and chief executive officer.

“We still want to grow and we feel CEO Chito Salud can help us. He has new tasks, to be helped by the game commissioner. Ang game commissioner ang nakatutok sa games,” said then board chairman Patrick Gregorio.

The board then also thought of amending the by-laws to make the new position of Salud “constitutional.”

The board, however, hasn’t worked on it up to now.

Salud, Narvasa and Non were together the last time only last Sunday attending the PBA Press Corps induction of officers.

“He didn’t give a hint,” said Non.