Message from Commissioner
First off, I would like to congratulate Ben Libao of PBA Chicago for the four years of dedicated service he put in as the first Commissioner of the Filipino Basketball Association of North America (FBA). It is not easy to lead an organization from its very beginning and infancy stages, as there are many growing pains that must be endured in order to succeed. However, Ben did an admirable job of leading us and we all thank-him for his hard work and diligence.
I am very excited to take over the role as Commissioner of the FBA and look forward to working with my fellow board members in facilitating its projected growth over the next few years. I have personally been involved with the Fil-American / Fil-Canadian basketball circuit since the early 1970s as a player; and in the late 80s through to the present day in various roles such as Coach, Manager, League Officer and Commissioner of the Philcan Athletic Group (Toronto).
Much like the NBA, Filipino basketball in North America has evolved greatly over the past 30-plus years. Its changed from a gritty and physical on-court war under the boards to a more wide open, free-wheeling style that accentuates athleticism and finesse. Although the style of the game has changed, our intentions for playing basketball have remained the same. We first started to play basketball to promote competition, community and sportsmanship and those are the values that the FBA continues to strive for today.
On top of maintaining these core values, I will seek to grow the FBA and help it mature into the authoritative organization of Filipino basketball in North America. Here are a few goals I will be working towards throughout my term as Commissioner:
As always, I will seek the guidance of the FBA Board of Directors to steer the organization in the right direction. If you have any helpful suggestions, feel free to contact your City Representative to relay the message at the next FBA Board Meeting.
Thank-you and let’s play ball!
Eddie Semira
Commissioner
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