Acknowledged as the amateur basketball "godfather" after bankrolling the successful campaign of the Philippine team in the 2007 Southeast Asian Basketball Association that eventually paved the way for the country’s return to international competition, Romero, succeeded Dr. Cecilio Pedro, a long-time league patron and a known pillar in the business industry.

Pedro, one of the architects behind the league’s huge success last season, completed his one-year term of office with flying colors.

"I’m deeply honored with the trust and confidence bestowed by my fellow owners and their representatives for making me the new chairman of the league," said Romero, who vowed to make the league truly developmental in nature and a haven for rising stars.

The chief executive officer of the country’s fastest-growing non-containerized port terminals Harbour Centre Port Terminal Inc. (HCPTI) and its parent company Harbour Centre Port Holdings, said his main thrust is to further strengthen the league and produce more quality players whom he dubbed as the `Generation X’.

With the exit of several marquee players, including his main man Jason Castro and league top drawer Gabe Norwood of Hapee Toothpaste, Romero plans to hold training camps in Davao, Cebu and Manila to draw more interest and inspire young players to take the sport seriously.

"Basketball can help define their future and we are here to help them achieve their dreams," said Romero, voted the 2007 Management Man of the Year by Philippine Council of Management (Philcoman) during its 36th Management Congress.

"With the new chairman, there will be better ideas to further enhance and improve the image of the league. We’ll join hands to support him all the way," said Pedro.

Ding Camua of Pharex was named vice chairman while Lito Alvarez of Burger King was designated as treasurer.

Early this year, Romero, who is also chairman and president of various corporations such as Pacifica, Inc., Investment corporation Mikro-Tech Capital Inc. and Mindanao-based mining corporation 168 Ferrum Pacific Mining Corporation was also presented the De La Salle Lifetime Achievement Award for Sports by the De La Salle Alumni Association and Young Leaders Award by Philippine Graphics Magazine.

Commissioner Chino Trinidad and former league chairmen Gil Angeles of Toyota Otis and Chito Loyzaga of San Miguel Corporation are all upbeat about Romero’s election as chairman. Romero is one of the youngest to chair the board.

Trinidad, Loyzaga and Angeles believe Romero, a former varsity player from La Salle, can translate his winning formula with Harbour in leading the league to greater heights.

"There’s no doubt about his passion for the sport, so I believe he will work hand in hand with the Board to bring the league to a new level," said Trinidad.

Romero’s Harbour Centre made history in the league by winning a record five straight championships aside from winning the gold medal in the SEA Games last year.

On his part, Angeles said: "We will exert all avenues to achieve the new path of our league."

To make the games fast and more entertaining, the league likewise unanimously approved the new age limit of 25 years old. But teams with existing players who are more than 25 can still use just three of them until this season.