Vargas: Man for all seasons

MANILA, Philippines — TNT KaTropa’s Victorico “Ricky” Vargas presided over yesterday the meeting of the PBA board of governors in his capacity as the current chairman.

On March 8, the board convenes in a meeting again to kick off a three-day planning session where history will be made with Vargas to be given a fourth straight term as league chair.

He will become the longest serving PBA top honcho since Carlos Palanca III of Barangay Ginebra and Rey Marquez of Formula Shell assumed the position in 1983-86 and 1987-90, respectively.

And counting his previous chairmanship in the 2006-07 season, Vargas is to serve a fifth term overall – the longest by any chair since Domingo Itchon of Tanduay Rhum Esquires occupied the post in 1976-82.

“It’s a testimony to his character and leadership that endear him to everyone in the board,” said a PBA board member. “Everyone looks up to the chairman and his kind of leadership. To say that he has the full trust and confidence of the board is an understatement.”

The sports media recognized Vargas’ leadership.

For his outstanding performance in the 44th season, Vargas was chosen to receive the Danny Floro Executive of the Year award by the PBA Press Corps.  It was his second citation, the first coming in 2006-07.

In the coming PSA Awards Night, Vargas and the national boxing federation (Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines) that he heads will be feted the NSA (national sports association) of the Year award for the second straight year.

Vargas’ love for sports is a consuming passion and it shows in the way he has successfully carried out his mission in the PBA, ABAP and the Philippine Olympic Committee where he was once the president.

During yesterday’s meeting,the board approved the groundwork for the stand-alone three-a-side play, including the format and costing, taking into consideration the kind of setup the government may require.

“We’re ready to move forward,” Alaska’s Dickie Bachmann, the PBA 3x3 governor-in-charge, told The STAR.

According to Bachmann, the PBA has prepared programs for both the bubble/closed circuit and the non-bubble concepts for the 18-team 3x3 wars.

“Hopefully, if the IATF says there’s no need for a bubble or closed circuit, there will be three conferences composed of five legs and one grand finals each,” he said.

“If the IATF says bubble, there will be a 13-day bubble with three two-day legs and one two-day grand finals for one conference,” he added. – Olmin Leyba