THE UAAP has a new basketball commissioner and, unlike in the past, he will serve for two straight seasons.
The league named yesterday Richard “Dickie” Bachmann as cage wars chief in the coming 85th season kicking off on Oct. 1 and the 86th season next year.
“It’s like going full circle, starting out as a player to an assistant coach then, later on, team manager and team governor and now to a commissioner,” Bachmann said.
“I’m really blessed and grateful for this opportunity and the UAAP was the place where it all started for me, that’s what excites me the most,” he added.
Bachmann suited up for La Salle from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce, Major in Business Management.
Season 85 host Adamson University decided to break tradition by selecting the commissioner for both basketball and volleyball tourneys.
A selection process was held, while the entire UAAP Board of Managing Directors made the final approval.
“As hosts for UAAP Season 85, we at Adamson University decided to break tradition of endorsing one and make everyone part of the selection process in choosing the commissioner for both the basketball and volleyball tournaments,” UAAP President Fr. Aldrin Suan, CM, of Adamson, said.
“Executive Director Atty. Rebo Saguisag formed a search committee that screened applicants and nominees and came up with a shortlist which was presented to the BMD.
After painstaking deliberation by the BMD, it was Mr. Richard Bachmann who stood out. We are excited to have him and see him execute his expertise and vision for our basketball tournaments, not just this season but also for UAAP Season 86.”
Bachmann, who played for the defunct Alaska franchise in the PBA where he later served as assistant to Tim Cone, team manager, and team governor, said he is training his sights on improving the league’s officiating. He replaced Tonichi Pujante, who was appointed 98th NCAA basketball tournament commissioner.
“My main task is improving the officiating of the league, a one-year term on any commissioner is not enough,” Bachmann said.
“There should be continuity through training, and they also need to call some games outside of the UAAP which will also be supervised by us.”
UAAP executive director Atty. Rebo Saguisag welcomed Bachmann’s appointment, saying: “The UAAP is aligned with Commissioner Bachmann’s vision of referee development. With his recommendation, we will have him on board for the next two UAAP seasons. This is not just for the UAAP but for the entire collegiate basketball landscape, and perhaps the nation’s as well.
“The UAAP is very excited to have continuity and, hopefully, synergy with the other leagues in creating a harmonious environment for our student-hoopers, coaches, officials, and our staff.”
Bachmann is currently in the process of selecting the pool of referees that will be tapped by the league for its men’s, women’s, high school boys’, high school girls’, and 3×3 basketball tournaments.
“Basically, they asked me about my plans for the referees. I said that I’d rather have a pool that I can control, a collection of referees from various leagues and groups,” he said.
“I’m going to meet each team. I would rather go to each school and meet each head coach to know their experiences from past seasons. I’m going to listen to them and see the positives and negatives of past seasons so we can improve on those.”
