Barrios ready for new challenge as SBP's new executive director

Former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) commissioner Renauld "Sonny" Barrios said he is ready to take on the challenge of being the new executive director of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP). Barrios said the SBP top brass have yet to orient him on the plans of the organization, since he just had his first day in office on Monday. He said that his passion for the game convinced him to take the SBP executive director post after Noli Eala, also a former PBA commissioner, resigned last February. “Makakatulong pa naman ako sa basketball, so why not take the post?" said Barrios in Tuesday's Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum. Barrios is honored that the SBP was interested in hiring him as its executive director. “It’s really heartwarming that they considered me for the post. I’ve been with the PBA for 21 years, I must have done something right." Barrios, who handled 10 teams in the PBA, will not only deal with the country's basketball stakeholders, but also with the international basketball community. "I will embrace a gentleman and a sportsman attitude," said Barrios. "In this job, you should try to have many friends and not enemies." Barrios' first project as SBP executive director is the FIBA-Asia Champions Cup set on May 28 to June 5 at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City, making it his top priority for the host country. This early, he has been seeking advice from friends on how to deal with the hosting of the event. "I have talked to Moying Martelino about the Champions Cup and I learned a lot from him. He advised me to look at every little detail. He said that that is really the important thing in hosting an event," said Barrios. "Basta makakabuti sa basketball, kahit kanino pa galing, I will embrace it and we will adopt it. Ako naman, (while) with the PBA, I adopted a listening-ear policy with everyone," said Barrios. - Reuben Terrado, JVP, KY, GMA News