Narvasa sees 'positive' change' in way SMC teams are being run after Eala's exit

BASKETBALL Coaches Association of the Philippines head Chito Narvasa expressed hope that Noli Eala's exit as consultant for basketball operations at San Miguel Corp. will lead to a positive change in the way the giant company's three teams in the PBA are being run.

Narvasa, a former coach of Purefoods and Shell in the pro league, said the personnel change can also lead to a change in the management style where major decisions will be made with closer coordination between the coaching staff and officials.

The three teams may now even enjoy greater autonomy, he added.

“If every team is left to chart its own course, I’m sure things are gonna change and I believe it’s for the positive,” said Narvasa, a day after SMC announced that Eala has been assigned a new role in the conglomerate's infrastructure businesses.

Eala, a former PBA commissioner, joined the San Miguel organization in 2011 after a stint as executive director of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and played an increasing role in the running of the company's three teams.

The company won two PBA championships with Petron and San Mig Coffee and one ABL title during Eala's stint with the organization, which also saw drastic changes in the make-up of the three teams' lineups and constant revamps of their coaching staff.

With Eala no longer involved in the running of the three teams, Narvasa expects to see a change in the management of the three teams where coaches and mid-level officials will have more say when it comes to movements and other major decisions.

“With this development, I think they (SMC management) are looking for that. Any change na ganito is in the direction of trying to get better,” he said.

“I think what they should do is meron naman silang management. They should get the feedback of this people more kasi they are more involved in the everyday business of the team,” Narvasa said.

Insiders revealed that the sports director position Eala held for two years will most likely be dissolved, leaving majority of the control of the teams to head of basketball operations and current league chairman Robert Non.

Source: Snow Badua, SPIN.ph