IT’S still Willie Marcial and Ricky Vargas.
The two are set to keep their partnership in guiding the PBA to new heights—especially with the pro league celebrating its golden anniversary.
Marcial and Vargas retained their respective positions as Commissioner and league chairman, respectively, with both to serve an unprecedented ninth term in the landmark 50th season that comes off the wraps on Oct. 5 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Also keeping their posts are Alfrancis Chua as vice chairman, Atty. Raymond Zorrilla as treasurer and Atty. Ogie Narvasa as corporate secretary and legal counsel.
The annual PBA election of officers was held last Tuesday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, kicking off a five-day summit also attended by other members of the league board, members of the PBA management committee and top officials of the league’s TV coverage partners.
“We’re all out in support of our chairman,” Chua, whose vocal support was seconded by everybody, including Robert Non of San Miguel Beer, Jason Webb of Magnolia, Atty. Bill Pamintuan of Meralco, Ronald Dulatre of NLEX, Mert Mondragon of Rain or Shine, Silliman Sy of Blackwater, Archen Cayabyab of Converge and Erick Arejola of NorthPort, said.
Witnessing the election were TV5 president Guido Zaballero, Cignal TV president and CEO Jane Basas and Sienna Olaso, VP Channels and Content of Cignal TV.
In a related development, the Bolts are raring to finally hit pay dirt in the East Asia Super League.
Meralco tapped 6-foot-10 center Ismael Romero from Puerto Rico as its second import to beef up the titanic duo of Justin Brownlee and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, which will happen for the first time.
“We want to win the EASL for the country and for the PBA,” Pamintuan said. “We are leaving no stones unturned, make no mistake about it.”
Tournament rules allow the use of two naturalized players, two imports and an Asian import to reinforce the teams.
The Bolts are still aching from a double-overtime loss to Jeremy Lin and Chinese Taipei in Taiwan, and they want nothing less than going all the way this time.
A cool US$1 million will be awarded to the champion of the tournament, but what excites Pamintuan and the rest of the team is the chance for Meralco to play that tournament at home and show the Filipino fans what a Brownlee-Hollis-Jefferson tandem can bring to the table.
