Willie Marcial, the former statistician and media-relations specialist is now tasked as the commissioner with leading the PBA out of its current quagmire and into a new phase that will attract new fans.
He never aimed for the top post in the league but his long experience prepared him for it.
"Different commissioners have different strengths. There are commissioners who just by their mere presence demand respect, there are those who are good in marketing and PR, and there are those who are very strict with the rules and are good at making sure these are followed," Marcial said. "Every commissioner that I worked for had something to bring to the table. Working for four different commissioners was of great help to me because I saw their styles and I learned from them. I think that's the reason why I am here now."
Usually, having a new commissioner would mean there's a period of adjustment in the PBA office with employees adjusting to how their new boss likes to do things. There's no need for that with Marcial having spent nearly 17 years in the PBA office.
With a quick transition, the team has begun working on improvements.
To avert the same incident that sparked the recent crisis, Marcial suggested a Trade Committee that would decide if player swaps will be approved or denied.
He proposed putting members of the media and former PBA coaches on the committee, but the Board declined. The Governors and their coaches also declined.
Running out of options, Marcial decided to push for the people he trusts: his employees in the PBA office.
"I picked employees of the PBA from our legal and technical departments," Marcial explained. "It's a five-man committee including me and if the decisions are 3-1 or 4-0, I won't need to vote anymore. I will only do it if it's a 2-2 tie."
In the past, the Commissioner was the sole decision maker. Now Marcial took himself out of the equation unless it's absolutely necessary.
"In my years in with the PBA, the trades have always been an issue so we are doing this for transparency. I want the members of the committee to list down reasons why the trade should or should not push through and I wanted the decision to come from more than just myself so it would be like a democracy as I did not want to be the sole decision-maker," he elaborated. "I've been working with these people for so long and the ones who just joined us, I saw how hard they work so I trust them."
It didn't take long for Marcial's leadership to be put to the test. In Sunday's game between Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel Beer, a technical foul called on Chris Ross would be the first big controversy of his stint as commissioner.
"When I was named the OIC, I made a decision that every time there would be a controversial call and the issue is not judgment but technical, I will ask our Technical Director Eric Castro to explain the call. I want things to be clear from the start. We will cite the specific rules from our rulebook so that it would be clear to the media and to the public as well. We want the fans to understand and we want to be transparent with them."
In the next three years, Marcial hopes to grow the PBA fan base.
"It's a huge honor for me to be named as Commissioner. I thank the team owners and the Board of Governors for giving me this role," Marcial said. "But someone told me that being the Commissioner is just a title. If you won't make an impact, if you won't be able to help the league, if you won't entertain the fans, being a Commissioner is useless."
And for now, being a Commissioner requires him to help in bridging the gap between two factions and helping the Board of Governors become a solid unit again.
"I want to help mend the relationships in the Board. We were a happy group before and I hope I can help bring back the old days. Because I'm in good terms with both sides, then maybe I am the guy who will help fix it."
The Governors will always try to find ways to give their teams the best shot at winning championships in the PBA. Sometimes, what's best for one team might not be the best for the league and that's when the Governors and the commissioner may clash and Marcial's relationships with the Governors, which he has cultivated for so many years, will be put to the test.
"I know there will be disagreements but as one Governor told me: 'Even married couples fight.' He also told me that we can fight but remain friends so I'm holding on to that," Marcial said.
In all his years as the PBA Media Bureau Chief, the irony of Willie Marcial was that he never enjoyed recorded conversations. He wasn't comfortable with being interviewed or being in front of the camera. With no ambition to become a Commissioner one day and content with his behind-the-scenes role, he did not see this as a necessary skill. Now it will have to be something that he learns quickly.
Asked whether he's looking forward to the first time he'll be required to give a speech inside a packed venue, Marcial answered coyly.
"You know me. I'm not very good with interviews and speeches. Maybe I will just ask them to take out the speech because I'm the Commissioner now and I'm in charge."