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DR.
Michael “Mikee” Romero, a proven winner in both sports
and business, was voted chairman of the Philippine
Basketball League (PBL) by acclamation during the Board
of Governors’ meeting recently at the Sofitel Philippine
Plaza in Manila.
Romero,
37, acknowledged as the amateur basketball’s “godfather”
for bankrolling the successful campaign of the
Philippine team in the 2007 Southeast Asian Basketball
Association that eventually paved the way for the
country’s return to international competition, succeeded
Dr. Cecilio Pedro, a long-time league patron and also a
known pillar in the business industry.
 Pedro,
one of the architects behind the league’s huge success
last season where fans from north to south embraced the
league like never before, completed his one-year term in
office with flying colors.
“I’m
deeply honored with the trust and confidence bestowed by
my fellow owners and their representatives for making me
the new chairman of the league,” said Romero, who vowed
to make the league truly developmental in nature and a
haven for rising stars.
The
chief executive officer of the country’s fastest-growing
noncontainerized port terminal—Harbour Centre Port
Terminal Inc. (HCPTI) and its parent company, Harbour
Centre Port Holdings—said his main thrust is to further
strengthen the league and produce more quality players
whom he dubbed as the “Generation X.”
With the
exit of several marquee players, including his main man
Jason Castro and league top drawer Gabe Norwood of Hapee
Toothpaste, Romero plans to hold training camps in
Davao, Cebu and Manila to draw more interest and inspire
young players to take the sport seriously.
“Basketball can help define their future, and we are
here to help them achieve their dreams,” Romero, the
2007 Management Man of the Year winner, said.
“With
the new chairman, there will be better ideas to further
enhance and improve the image of the league. We’ll join
hands to support him all the way,” said Pedro.
Ding
Camua of Pharex was named vice chairman, while Lito
Alvarez of Burger King was designated as treasurer.
Early
this year, Romero, who is also chairman and president of
various corporations such as Pacifica Inc., investment
corporation Mikro-Tech Capital Inc. and Mindanao-based
mining corporation 168 Ferrum Pacific Mining Corp., was
also presented the De La Salle Lifetime Achievement
Award for Sports by the De La Salle Alumni Association
and Young Leaders Award by Philippine Graphic magazine.
Commissioner Chino Trinidad and former league chairmen
Gil Angeles of Toyota Otis and Chito Loyzaga of San
Miguel Corp. are all upbeat about Romero’s election as
chairman. Romero is one of the youngest to chair the
board.
Trinidad, Loyzaga and Angeles believe Romero, a former varsity player
from La Salle, can translate his winning formula with
Harbour Centre in leading the league to greater heights.
“There’s
no doubt about his passion for the sport, so I believe
he will work hand in hand with the board to bring the
league to a new level,” said Trinidad.
Romero’s
Harbour Centre made history in the league by winning a
record five straight championships aside from winning
the gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games last year.
On his
part, Angeles said: “We will exert all avenues to
achieve the new path of our league.”
To make
the games fast and more entertaining, the league
likewise unanimously approved the new age limit of 25.
But teams with existing players who are more than 25 can
still use just three of them until this season. |
