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Up next for Philippine sports: Noli Eala is the new PSC chairman

By Annika Caniza - August 31, 2022
With all the growth Philippine sports has seen in the last few years, Noli Eala will continue building the momentum as the new PSC Chairman.

The Philippine Sports Commission is entering a new chapter. After William “Butch” Ramirez’s six-year tenure with the PSC, Jose Emmanuel “Noli” Eala has been named the Commission’s new chairman.

(And in case you were wondering: Alex Eala is his niece.)

Malacañang confirmed the appointment following President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s approval.

Former PBA Commissioner turned PSC Chairman

Eala has been in the sports industry for years, even during his college days. Studying at Ateneo De Manila University, he was one of the team managers of their basketball team, the Blue Eagles.

He started making a name for himself when he became a PBA commentator and a news anchor. In 2002, he landed the job of commissioner of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Eala resigned from the position as PBA Commissioner in 2007 but continued dabbling in the local basketball industry. He was the Executive Director and one of the founding members of Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.

Eala also has a sports show called ‘Power and Play with Noli Eala’ that airs on Radyo 5. He continues to channel his sports commentator energy through his show.

Now, ready to take on a new role as the chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission, he posted on his Twitter sharing his excitement to serve.

Along with Eala, retired professional bowler and Filipino sports administrator Olivia “Bong” Coo will also be part of the new PSC board. Together, they will continue to build on our growing sports community.

Building on the momentum

As the new chairman of the PSC, Noli Eala will be leading the charge in opening up even more opportunities for the Philippine sports community. Over the last few years, Filipino athletes have been competing locally and internationally, bringing home victories.

Athletes like Hidilyn Diaz, Carlos Yulo, and EJ Obiena gained international recognition through their successes within the past six years. We saw our most successful medal run at the 2020 Olympics. Our national teams, like the Filipinas, are becoming household names in the country with their historic successes. And these only just scratch the surface of what our athletes have accomplished.

Overall, Philippine sports have been moving in the direction we’ve been wanting to see. It’s on its way up. With Eala now at the helm, we hope to see the momentum of the past few years continue to build. And we definitely believe it will, especially with opportunities in the near future.

With the Asian Games, the FIBA World Cup, and the FIFA World Cup among the major international competitions our athletes are preparing for, the excitement is definitely brewing. We wish nothing but the best to the new PSC board under Eala’s leadership, and we’re definitely looking forward to seeing more in Philippine sports.