AL Panlilio, a top executive of the Manila Electric Company, said he will have big shoes to fill in after he was formally elected Monday as the new president of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.
In succeeding former SBP chief Manny V. Pangilinan, who has been around for 10 years, Panlilio said being the head of the country’s governing body will be a tough act to follow.
“The programs are solid and will remain intact. And we will push through with these programs,” said Panlilio, currently the senior vice president of Meralco.
Panlilio added that he has inherited a program focused on the development of the Gilas Pilipinas national men’s basketball team, the 3×3 tournament, grassroots development and women’s basketball.
The only aspect he can add, according to Panlilio, is the welfare and development of the coaches and referees.
“We will continue to work with the regional directors, making sure that they will be able to implement the programs that we have put in place,” said Panlilio.
He was voted into as the new SBP chief by a 25-man board of trustees, which were earlier elected in the SBP Congress at the Dusit Hotel in Makati.
He heads the MVP Sports Foundation, with Sen. Sonny Angara, who was named as SBP chairman, and former Representative Robbie Puno, who is the new vice chairman.
Panlilio is one of four representatives from the professional sector, aside from PBA chairman Robert Non, league vice chairman Erick Arejola and Commissioner Chito Narvasa.
“It has been a difficult decision for me to retire from a sport I deeply care about,” said Pangilinan, who, however, will still be around after he was named Chairman Emeritus in proceedings witnessed by Philippine Olympic Committee Representative Atty. Ramon Malinao.
SBP executive director Sonny Barrios, who is expected to keep his post, feels the organization won’t see any changes in terms of support, financial or otherwise.
Pangilinan, according to Barrios, will still be around to provide support to SBP’s programs.
“Ang SBP kasi talaga namang mahal ni MVP. You don’t push him to love basketball. Kami nga, we have to keep up with him,” said Barrios.
During the congress, University Athletic Association of the Philippines board representative Ronulado Dizer, Joe Lipa of the Philippine Collegiate Champions League, Paul Supan of the NCAA and Xavi Nunag of the National Basketball Training Center were voted to represent the school sector.
Melanie Florentino of the Inter-scholastic Athletic Association will also be part of the school sector.
The commercial sector named Ricky Palou, Puno (Filsports basketball Association) and Jobin Uy.
For Area 1, there’s Joey Guillermo Jr., Bernardino Bermudez, and Crispulo Onrubia, while Virgilio Cortez and Rey Bautista represent Area 2.
Area 3 has Benjo Viola and Ramoncito Fernandez, while Enrico Navarro and Fr. Joseph Haw were elected from Area 4.
Area 5 will have Glenn Escandor (Duterte Basketball League) and Stephen Dacoco as representatives in the board, while Monica Jorge was elected to represent the women’s sector.
There is a push for the the continuation of the Gilas Pilipinas program and the participation of the country in international events, particularly the 2019 World Cup and the 2020 Olympics.