The criteria for the selection of the next PBA Commissioner will be the main agenda of the Board of Governors when they meet today at the league’s office in Eastwood Libis, Quezon City.
PBA Chairman Pato Gregorio announced the staging of the meeting during the announcement of Commissioner Chito Salud to step down at the end of the current season, ending a productive five-year reign as league chief.
While several names have floated as Salud’s possible successor, Gregorio said the focus will be on whether they or other candidates fit the bill.
“We’ll focus on the criteria, because we all know that the PBA is bigger now, so maybe, the criteria will change while the different governors will share their own inputs,” said Gregorio.
The board is hoping to complete the process by the end of the ongoing Commissioner’s Cup in order for Salud and the league’s ninth commissioner to have a smooth transition period.
Some of the names mentioned by various sources as possible candidates following Salud’s announcement were PBA greats Robert Jaworski and Ramon Fernandez and brothers Chito and Ogie Narvasa.
Chito is currently the head of the Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines and had coaching stints with Purefoods and Shell in the 90s. He also served as UAAP Commissioner in 2008.
Other names that have been mentioned include ex-pro and onetime PSC and UAAP commissioner Chito Loyzaga, former PBA governors Lito Alvarez, Buddy Encarnado and JB Baylon, and Bobby Barreiro – a former TV5 executive.