PBA: Narvasa issue places pro league in peril
By Ivan Stewart Saldajeno
As per an emergency meeting called by incoming PBA Board of Governors chairman Ramoncito Fernandez on Thursday, Narvasa’s stint as the commissioner will not be likely renewed in lieu of the recent developments that rocked the league.
Aside from Fernandez, who is NLEX’s representative, the other governors present in the said meeting were Pato Gregorio (TNT), Al Panlilio (Meralco), Silliman Sy (Blackwater), Dickie Bachmann (Alaska), Mert Mondragon (Rain Or Shine), and Raymond Zorilla (Phoenix).
Fernandez, however, clarified that they are not calling for Narvasa’s impeachment as two-thirds vote (eight votes) is required to do so, and what they only agreed was that they would only let him finish his term.
The absence of the board members from the SMC umbrella (San Miguel, Ginebra, and Star), Kia, and GlobalPort meant that the eight-vote rule, on whether his term will be extended or face ouster, will not take effect.
However, the five governors who opted not to attend the emergency board meeting issued a joint statement later Thursday saying, “All five teams – San Miguel, Ginebra, Star, Kia and Globalport – stand behind Commissioner Narvasa.
He enjoys our full support and we have prevailed upon him to stay and do what is right.
“ Robert Non, the Beermen’s governor who issued the statement on behalf of the five aforementioned clubs, then called out what they tagged as the “renegade bloc”, saying, “They cannot just act on a whim. What they are doing is not in accordance with our by-laws and constitution. All changes being made by these renegade members are not allowed, including the appointment of Rickie Santos as officer-in-charge, and would not be binding on the whole board membership. This includes the misrepresentation of NLEX board member Ramon Fernandez as PBA chairman, when in fact, the sitting chairman is still Global Port’s Mikee Romero.” (PNA)
