Narvasa resigning? Maybe

It’s not often that a mass is held at the PBA office in Libis, Quezon City. But last week, one was held, organized by Willie Marcial, the PBA’s accessible, unflappable, and reasonable media bureau chief.

Behind the unplanned mass was not to greet the advent of the Christmas season, but the wish to bless the PBA in this time of challenge. The crisis facing the PBA, with only days left before the opening of its 43rd season, is so daunting that perhaps Marcial thought that only divine intervention could save the league from disintegrating.

Adding to the PBA’s woes was the sudden hospitalization of its workhorse executive director Ricky Santos, who suffered a stroke last week while putting the final touches on the PBA opening. He was also in the middle of the conflicting forces within the league. The mass was also to pray for his quick recovery.

Santos was appointed by a group made up of seven teams led by Talk ‘N Text, to act as officer in charge of the league after it issued a loss of confidence declaration against PBA Commissioner Chito Narvasa, following Narvasa’s decision to send Kia’s No. 1 pick in the recent draft to league powerhouse San Miguel.

But the group supporting Narvasa, made up of five teams led by San Miguel Beer, said it will not honor Santos’s designation and will continue to recognize Narvasa.

Indeed, with the opening set Dec. 17, there is no convincing argument that it would be held on this day as planned. For months, no board meeting has been held to ratify the schedule, although it has been drafted, printed and distributed, and the venue, Smart Araneta Coliseum, signed in.

The only positive development at this juncture is that no team has complained about the schedule of games, a PBA official said. Unless the owners of the team declare that they are not fielding players, “it’s a go,” added the official.”

However, the general feeling at the PBA office is one of trepidation. There is real fear that the opening, set two Sundays from now, is in actual jeopardy. The opening will pit San Miguel against Phoenix, teams that belong to opposite sides of the controversy.

The divided board – one made up of seven teams (Talk ‘N Text, Rain or Shine, Phoenix, Alaska, Blackwater, Meralco and NLEX), the other, composed of five teams (San Miguel Beer, Star, Ginebra San Miguel, Globalport and Kia) – remained split, with no meeting for possible unification in the pipeline.

There is feint light at the end of the tunnel, though. According to Marcial, the media chief, “backdoor negotiations” are being conducted, although he did not say who is behind them.

With the opening so near, there might be one entity which can bring the board together, iron out its differences, and formulate an acceptable solution to the Narvasa issue. That could be the government.

The government can step in because of the far-ranging effects of a PBA disbandment. The PBA has become a national treasure, and probably the government can step in to insure its survival.

Its importance can be likened to American sports institutions like Major League Baseball, National Football League, NBA and PGA Tour where government participation had been welcomed to keep these leagues going. These US sports leagues, for instance, enjoy tax-free privileges.

A PBA source said in a phone interview that a person close to President Duterte has been making calls, trying to help find a solution to the impasse.

Of course, the best solution, and still the most effective, by consensus, is Narvasa taking the noble step of resigning as commissioner.

Asked if this thought has ever crossed Narvasa’s mind, the source said: “Yes,” he said, “Narvasa has thought of resigning.”