The champagne toasts and congratulatory handshakes will have to wait another day when the new commissioner of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) finds more free time in his hands.

“That part of me that wants to celebrate has been subdued by my eagerness to buckle down to work and tackle the task at hand,” said Atty.

Angelico ‘Chito’ Salud Wednesday on his assumption of office following the announced retirement of PBA commissioner Renauld ‘Sonny’ Barrios weeks before.

Salud steps into a revered post previously held by seven others since 1975 ¬ Leo Prieto, the founding commissioner, Rey Marquez, Col. Mariano Yenko, Emilio ‘Jun’ Bernardino, Jose Emmanuel ‘Noli’ Eala, Barrios, and the man he inevitably will be measured by ¬Atty. Rodrigo ‘Rudy’ Salud, his father.

“I haven’t seen him yet since the rookie draft,” said the younger Salud, laughing when asked if father and son have already shared a sip of champagne. “But we’ll probably have lunch Sunday like we usually do. And I’m sure I’m going to get a handful of reminders from him again.” Salud said he is looking forward to that paternal tete-a-tete.

“Who could have the best adviser with respect to sports?” he said. “I have a Rudy Salud not just as my father but an adviser whose motivation is not just to ensure that his son succeeds, but more important, that the league he helped found succeeds.”

That comparisons inexorably will be made is not lost on the eldest son. now 48, married for 22 years with four children – as he treks up the trail blazed by his illustrious father 35 years ago.

“I can only hope to have that same attitude that he had. And that’s what I’m going to put into practice – that everything I do here will not be for self-promotion or motivated by self-interest, but will be for the good of the league and in the interest of the ordinary basketball fan.”

Salud, who paid tribute to Barrios for his “graciousness in teaching me, guiding me and showing me the ropes,” had wanted to hit the ground running as soon as he was formally named by the PBA Board of Governors at the start of a long scheduled pre-season planning session in Hong Kong two days ago.

But events of the past weeks and the resulting backlash in the aftermath of the hostage-taking that claimed the lives of eight tourists from Hong Kong left league governors little choice but to cancel the trip early Tuesday, forcing Salud to spend his first day as commissioner at the PBA office in Libis, Quezon City, inside a satellite room adjacent to the spacious office reserved for him.

Salud arrived at around 10 a.m. (he had chicken sandwich and some fruits for lunch and siopao as an afternoon snack) and stayed in the room he occupied as deputy commissioner these past months, working on papers for most of the day before leaving at 6 p.m.

“Atty. Salud will probably move to the next room within the next few days,” said PBA media bureau chief Willie Marcial, who is having the carpet in the Commissioner’s Office shampooed and windows in the private bathroom fixed.

Salud wouldn’t probably mind waiting a little more until his office is perfectly in order. He has, after all, “been asked” to wait quite some time already.

“Three years is a long time, especially when you’re aging at this phase of your life,” said Salud, again breaking into laughter when asked how muchhas changed since a deadlock in 2007 left unresolved the choice between him and businessman Lambert Ramos.

“Fate? Destiny? Could be,” he said. “Truth is, I never expected to be invited again, and that’s why I’m so thankful to the PBA board. All these blessings, even the unfortunate events that happen, may be part of God’s plan, when you think of it.”

The formal rites in the former British Colony set aside by intervening events, the league’s eighth commissioner, nonetheless, had his foot firmly on the gas pedal right on Day One.

“My familiarity with the officiating policies that we have, I have taken a look at that time and time again since 2007 and when I was appointed deputy commissioner,” he said. “That will be my main focus in my overall effort to improve our product – the game.”

Salud is “finalizing the officiating philosophy” that will be in effect for the 36th season – a three-conference format that starts next month – with his technical group (Rickie Santos, the PBA’s operations and technical committee head, and supervisor of referees Ramil Cruz).

“After we do that, then we’ll meet with the different stakeholders – the coaches, the Solar Sports TV panel, and the print and broadcast media,” said Salud. “We’ll be briefing and orienting them on the rules that will be employed, and at the same time get feedbacks from them for possible improvements.”

The need for a “common ground” and a “basic premise” to do away with conflicting interpretations of the calls being made by the referees, Salud said, could never be overemphasized.

When put in place, a consistent officiating philosophy, Salud believes, will allow for a more “freeflowing” game where players can “showcase their talents and playing skills” and not one “dominated by stoppages” and calls that the “public don’t understand and hinder the players” from making spectacular plays.

“Some people look at officiating as the PBA’s No. 1 problem. I don’t see it that way,” he said. “I think officiating could be the PBA’s No. 1 tool in making the game more exciting if the referees are taught properly and encouraged.”

The men in grey helping set up the breakaway slam? Key the no-look pass? Pave the way for a knee-breaking shake-and-bake move? That would be the day.

Truly no better way to hit the ground running for the new PBA commissioner.