Willie Marcial is new PBA commissioner

Willie Marcial is the 10th commissioner of the Philippine Basketball Association.

'The PBA Board of Governors, in its first meeting in the year yesterday, unanimously approved the promotion of Willie Marcial from league officer-in-charge to full-fledged commissioner.

The board did away with a tedious search process, deeming it better at this time to appoint Marcial as permanent commissioner with the league in a "healing process" after going through a difficult situation at the end of the previous PBA season.

"He'll help us through. He'll be the healing commissioner," said PBA chairman Ricky Vargas on the appointment of Marcial.

Marcial is 56 years old from Batangas City

Vargas said Marcial was given a three-year term as the 10th PBA commissioner after Leo Prieto, Mariano Yenko, Rudy Salud, Rey Marquez, Jun Bernardino, Noli Eala, Sonny Barrios, Chito Salud and Chito Narvasa.

"It was an appointment without any objection. The PBA board gave that go-signal without objection," said Vargas.

"As you know the PBA board has gone through a very difficult time before the opening of this season. And we're looking for somebody that can put it together and help us heal the process as there will be a lot of changes as we move along," Vargas also said.

"At this time, it's important to give it to somebody who grew up in the PBA, who understands the PBA, the by-laws; who has been mentored by many PBA commissioners in the past. He's one who has learned over the years in the PBA," he added.

Marcial has been part of the PBA management team from the time of Eala. He rose all the way from being a statistician during the time of Prieto then floor director with TV coveror Vintage Enterprises from the tenures of Salud to Bernardino.