MANUEL V. PANGILINAN will step down as president of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) and the writing on the wall suggests he will also “retire” as patron of the country’s basketball program for international competitions.
Pangilinan made the announcement on Thursday in a press conference held at his PLDT Office in Makati City. He will officially leave the SBP, the organization that replaced the Basketball Association of the Philippines as the International Basketball Federation (Fiba)-recognized governing body in the country in 2007.
Some basketball stakeholders are convincing Pangilinan to seek another term as SBP president, but the telecommunication mogul declined.
“My term has expired as of February,” Pangilinan told reporters, adding that he would want a “young and energetic” leadership at the federation.
Pangilinan explained the SBP did not call for an election earlier this year because of a busy schedule that included the formation of a team to the Fiba Asia Olympic qualifier, where Gilas Pilipinas settled for the silver medal early this month, and the bid for the hosting rights for the 2019 Fiba World Cup, which went to China.
“And I don’t want to violate the rules we have crafted,” he stressed.
Pangilinan and some board members’ tenure ended in February. The federation charter rules that a board member could not serve a cumulative term of eight years. They assumed their posts in 2007 and were reelected to a new term in 2012 that ends in 2018. But they are serving their cumulative eighth year in the position and are obliged to resign.
The terms of Vice Chairman Ricky Vargas, Deputy Executive Director Bernie Atienza and board members Pete Alfaro, Yayoy Alcoseba, Danny Soria, Nic Jorge and Fr. Paul de Vera have also expired.
“It’s for the best that I retire,” added Pangiinan, who will be leaving the basketball federation in a good and stable position, reaching its highest Fiba ranking at No. 31. This was highlighted by the country’s participation in the Fiba World Cup last year in Spain.
The SBP will call a special assembly in January next year to elect its new sets of officers.
“It signals a new change of leadership in the SBP and it’s a development that we should all welcome with open arms,” Pangilinan said. “The SBP needs fresh blood for Philippine basketball.”
With this development, the SBP now needs to decide if the country will play in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) next year.
Fiba has given the countries eligible for the OQT for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics until October 18 to commit to the OQT.
China foiled Gilas Pilipinas’s bid to return to the Olympics after 43 years by ruling the Asia Championship in Hunan. The Filipinos, however, still have a chance through the OQT, which is scheduled from July 4 to 10, 2016.