The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas expressed its appreciation to its former executive director, Renauld “Sonny” Barrios.
In a statement, SBP president Al Panlilio said Barrios had been an integral part of the federation in his 13 years of service.
Since replacing Noli Eala as executive director in 2011, Barrios worked tirelessly to propagate basketball in the Philippines.
He hit the ground running as he spearheaded the country’s successful hosting of the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship — the same event that sent Gilas Pilipinas to the FIBA World Cup for the first time in 40 years.
Gilas made a return to the World Cup in China in 2019 before finally hosting the prestigious 32-nation tournament last year.
Aside from hosting the World Cup, Barrios was also at the helm when Gilas Pilipinas regained the title in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games and won the crown in the 19th Asian Games for the first time in 61 years.
“ED Sonny is an institution in Philippine basketball and an integral part of what we’ve built in the SBP,” Panlilio, who appointed FIBA Legal Commission chairwoman Erika Dy as Barrios replacement two weeks ago, said.
“He was working in basketball in different capacities for more than three decades and that kind of experience was invaluable to helping the federation reach new heights.”
Barrios’ contribution wasn’t just limited to the men’s squad.
Under his watch, Gilas Women also enjoyed a meteoric rise while devoting the same amount of effort to other pillars of the federation such as the training of coaches, referees, and technical officials, the promotion of 3×3 and Esports, and the investment in grassroots programs all over the country.
The SBP also successfully hosted the 2018 FIBA 3×3 World Cup along with multiple windows in the FIBA Asia Cup and World Cup Asian Qualifiers, including one in a bubble setup during the pandemic.
His final act in the SBP will leave a lasting legacy in Philippine basketball history as the event director of the FIBA Basketball World Cup.
“He is a calming presence during difficult times and a devout supporter of every single player who wore our country’s colors. He is also a valued member of the international basketball community, well respected by his peers all over the world,” Panlilio added.
“Although we will certainly miss his presence in a day-to-day capacity, we know he will always be there when we need his advice. The SBP wishes him the best of health. He’ll always be part of the SBP family.”
