RICKY Vargas has been elected as the new president of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) as a newly by-laws took effect.
Vargas was elected by the SBP board on Tuesday, replacing Al Panlilio, who is no longer eligible to run for the polls as per the by-laws of the federation.
Vargas is the concurrent PBA chairman. He returns as president of a national sports association after playing the same role with the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP).
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The former Philippine Olympic Committee president is also the chef de mission of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Panlilio will still have a key role in Philippine basketball as a member of the FIBA Central Board.
“This new SBP Board is a healthy mix of wisdom-filled veterans and passionate young leaders who share a common purpose — to build a stronger, more unified future for Philippine basketball,” said Vargas in a statement.
“We’re setting the foundation for the next generation of sports leaders to continue the growth and excellence that Filipino basketball is known for,” said Vargas.
The SBP elected a new board of trustees following the ratification of the by-laws during the National Congress last May 9.
A total of 13 out of the 17 seats in the SBP board were filled on Tuesday during its elections. Those who were elected were Paul Tristan Laus (North Luzon representative), Edgar Francisco (South Luzon representative), Robert Uy (Visayas representative), Renauld ‘Sonny’ Barrios (Mindanao representative), Jose Franco Soberano (youth sector representative), Bo Perasol, Dax Castellano, and Eric Altamirano (schools sector representative), Maria Vivian Manila (women’s sector), and Alfrancis Chua, Manny V. Pangilinan, Vargas, and Archen Cayabyab (commercial and professional sector representative).
Pangilinan, meanwhile, was elected as chairman of the board. Erika Dy was also elected for a fresh term as executive director, while other key posts include June Cheryl Chaye Cabal-Revilla as vice chairman, Robert Uy as vice president, Marievic Anonuevo as corporate secretary, and Lennie Nocum as treasurer.
“This new SBP board is a reflection of how far Philippine basketball has come — more inclusive, more representative, and more forward-looking,” said Pangilinan. “For the first time, we have three female trustees on the Board, even with fewer seats overall, ensuring that the voice of women in basketball continues to grow stronger.”
“The addition of player and 3x3 representatives further broadens our perspective. And with promising young leaders like Jacob Ang and Franco Soberano, we’re making sure that basketball development in the country never stops — it only grows deeper and more united,” he added.
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