After years of controversial commissioners, the NCAA is hoping it has finally found the right man to handle its basketball tournaments.
And the Grand Old League tapped a lawyer to tame the NCAA jungle.
Enter Atty. Rico Quicho.
Atty. Quicho is no stranger to Philippine sports, having once owned the Navotas MPBL franchise.
But now, he faces a tougher task—straightening out the NCAA.
“There’s a term me and my team use, which is that we are going to ‘FIBA-lice’ the NCAA,” Atty. Quicho told Tiebreaker Times.
For starters, Quicho—who finished his undergraduate studies at De La Salle University, earned his law degree at Ateneo de Manila University, and obtained his Master of Law degree at the University of California, Berkeley—is implementing a more corporate structure within his team.
Inspired by the UAAP Basketball Commissioner’s Team, he tapped SBP Coaches Academy’s Mark Solano as his deputy commissioner for game management and technical matters, while bringing in Engr. Pangke Francisco as his deputy commissioner for administration and finance.
“Actually, my plan is not really on the basketball side. It’s really more on the transformative developmental values formation side, because ‘yung basketball maraming experts na diyan. I really told them na values ang first and foremost. Skills, that’s for the coaches to work on,” he said.
“So from the court of law to the basketball court ngayon. Once upon a time, I wanted to play, but I guess the talent is not there. But you know how serendipitous it could be, now that I’m still in the basketball court but in a different role. And I’m really happy and excited about it.”
Vyn Radovan/NCAA-GMA
Aware of the tough task ahead, Quicho also initiated a referees’ workshop with UAAP commissioner Jai Reyes last September 18 at Jose Rizal University.
“Our officiating for Season 101 will be topnotch. We have closely coordinated with the SBP to ensure that competent and high-performing referees will be tapped for every game. We have harmonized and aligned the NCAA brand of basketball with FIBA standards. All NCAA games will be tough but not rough, hard-fought but not dirty,” he said.
“Finally, to all our players, coaches, and their team staff, your safety and career come first. I’ll make sure that you are well taken care of. But please take note, I will not tolerate fighting and rough play. The NCAA is a place for student-athletes—you are role models, the future Olympians and leaders of our country.”
Also a professor at San Beda-Alabang, Quicho knows that change will not come overnight.
And he is ready to teach the “new” NCAA moving forward.
“Naging dean ako, and as a commissioner para rin lang akong dean. Ang mga professors natin, yung katuwang ko diyan, would be the coaches. And so kailangan hand in hand kami.”