PBA chairman Robert Non will assume the positions of president and chief executive officer in an acting and concurrent capacity after the league board accepted the surprise resignation of Chito Salud on Tuesday.
In a special board meeting held at the PBA office in Libis Thursday afternoon, Non was appointed to hold both titles until the season’s end or once the league found a suitable replacement for Salud.
Non made the announcement himself in an impromptu press conference at the end of an emergency board meeting on Thursday.
“With regards to who will take over, the board decided to appoint in an acting capacity until a replacement is found, the chairman to act as president and CEO,” said Non.
“Still the board (is the one) will decide who’s gonna be the replacement,” the San Miguel alternate governor added.
Non disclosed the board accepted with a ‘heavy heart’ Salud’s resignation, which will be effective at the end of the year.
He also tried calling Salud in the morning prior to the board meeting but got no reply, although he did try to convince the former commissioner to reconsider his decision in an earlier talk.
“Sabi ko sa kanya, baka puwedeng i-consider mo na lang after ng term ko (as chairman), ayaw niya. Sabi ko uli baka pwedeng tapusin na lang niya yung all-Filipino, ayaw talaga. Pagbigyan na lang daw namin siya,” Non recalled of his conversation with the son of the late commissioner Rudy Salud.
The San Miguel official said the board decided during the meeting to pursue naming one who will fill in the vacancy of the two positions that was newly incorporated in the chart flow of the league just prior to the new season.
“The board replied that we will pursue it,” said Non, who added the board is going to come up with its possible list of candidates, screen them, and select from it the person suited for the job
No names were mentioned during the meeting as early candidates, according to the league chairman, although he said the shoes to be filled in are definitely a tough act to follow.
“Dapat isang tao na puwedeng mas mataas sa quality ni CEO Salud. Remember ang laking contribution ni CEO Salud since he’s involved in the PBA since 2010. Ang laki ng papel niya sa paglago ng liga at mahirap ng pantayan yun,” said Non.
“Hopefully, sana the sooner the better we can find a replacement.”
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