THE stay of Chito Narvasa as Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) commissioner is now over after a majority of league board members moved not to endorse and support the extension of his term.
In a special board meeting held yesterday at the PBA office in Libis, Quezon City, seven present board members, citing primarily “loss of confidence,” all voted not to back Mr. Narvasa’s retention as league commissioner.
Named as officer-in-charge in place of Mr. Narvasa was league head of basketball operations Rickie Santos. He will hold the position until a two-thirds vote is reached to appoint a new commissioner.
Moved to officially file a resolution not to back Mr. Narvasa were representatives from TNT KaTropa, NLEX Road Warriors, Meralco Bolts, Alaska Aces, Phoenix Petroleum Fuel Masters, Blackwater Elite and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
No-show in the meeting were members from the San Miguel Beermen, Star Hotshots, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings, GlobalPort Batang Pier and Kia Picanto.
Mr. Narvasa’s tenure as PBA commissioner was left hanging in the balance after he recently approved a highly controversial trade between Kia and San Miguel that gave to the Beermen the top overall pick in this year’s rookie draft, who turned out to be Filipino-German big man Christian Standhardinger, for a bunch of role players and San Miguel’s rookie pick in 2019.
His baring afterwards that a TNT official facilitating in the submission of Mr. Standhardinger’s papers for the draft also did not sit well with TNT officials, denouncing it as “uncalled for” and deeming it as his way of deflecting attention from himself for approving what many believe to be a lopsided Kia-San Miguel deal.
In explaining their decision not to support the retention of Mr. Narvasa as league chief, however, incoming chairman Ramoncito Fernandez of NLEX said their decision went beyond the trade issue and zeroed in on loss of confidence.
“It’s simply loss of confidence, among others, including performance. The trade is not the main issue anymore,” said Mr. Fernandez following the emergency board meeting.
The naming of Mr. Santos, a longtime league official, as OIC is to assure that league operations will move on as fluid as possible until a new commissioner is officially named, the board said.
Mr. Narvasa was the ninth commissioner in league history, starting his tenure in 2015.
BusinessWorld tried to get his reaction on the latest development but no response has been made as of press time. He was, however, set to hold a press conference later yesterday.
Mr. Santos, meanwhile, declined to comment for now. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo