Fernandez: Next commish should be independent

WITH PBA commissioner Chito Salud announcing his resignation, former four-time Most Valuable Player Ramon “El Presidente” Fernandez is hoping the league’s next chief executive officer is not affiliated or identified with any of the corporate member-teams.

Salud announced his resignation during a press conference last Sunday.

“I just hope the next commissioner will be free from any corporate colors or any affiliation. Chito (Salud) have done his best but for me the best commissioner that the league had was (Leo) Prieto. He had a very good relationship with the owners and to us players. He was very strict that no player or team official would question, criticize or contest his decisions,” Fernandez told Sun.Star Cebu.

According to Fernandez, one of Salud’s glaring mistakes was his failure to impose sanction on Talk ‘N Text coach Jong Uichico during the semifinal series against the eventual champions San Miguel Beermen of the recently concluded Philippine Cup.

“Commissioner Salud even justified (Jong) Uichico’s statement by saying that it was expected because it was the semifinals and everybody wanted to win and emotions usually run high. Jong Uichico should have been fined, penalized or at least warned for saying referees have favored SMB ever since. But Chito did nothing and he let it passed, that was why there was a verbal circus between the team officials,” said Fernandez.

Fernandez, who was earlier considered to replace Salud along with fellow PBA legend Sonny Jaworski the notion of taking over.

“As I have said before, I already detached myself from basketball. I am enjoying my private life now. So please don’t even entertain the idea,” Fernandez said.