If plans don’t miscarry, Noli Eala will soon be out of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas. The ouster of the executive director, according to multiple sources, stems from several issues of mismanagement under his reign, particularly of the Smart Gilas program. One issue involves the failure to liquidate funds supposedly for the team, which resulted in the delay of salaries of the Smart Gilas players.

Eala had initially managed the Smart Gilas program, which he originally developed. In January 2010, erstwhile Talk N Text team manager Frankie Lim was tapped to replace Eala for day-to-day operations of the team amid reports that players were becoming disgruntled. “We’re redefining accountability in the national team,” said SBP vice chairman Ricky Vargas in a statement announcing the change.

Manny Pangilinan, the president of the SBP and the chairman of PLDT which bankrolls Smart Gilas, had reportedly originally been hesitant to pull the plug on Eala’s reign. MVP tried to reassign Eala to a corporate position in one of his companies, but was unable to find a willing taker among his executives.

It looks like Eala won’t be idle for long, however, as sources close to the San Miguel Corporation camp are saying that he will find a nice cushy landing spot in the company’s basketball program. “There’s no official word yet, but he’s in,” one source said. Eala will reportedly have a role as a consultant for basketball operations for the conglomerate, which runs three PBA teams: San Miguel, Ginebra, and B-MEG Derby Ace.

It’s still unclear how the change will affect the operations of the SBP, which will host the Fiba-Asia Champions Cup in May. Eala is also involved in the formation of an under-23 team to compete in the Asian Games under coach Norman Black, and a youth team under coach Olsen Racela.

Prior to his appointment in the SBP, Eala was commissioner of the Philippine Basketball Association, stepping down in 2007 after being disbarred.

UPDATE (2/19/2011): Eala texted his resignation announcement to sportswriters this morning:

It is with deep regret that I announce my decision to formally resign as executive director of the SBP. My decision to relinquish my post is to enable me to return to the corporate world where new opportunities have recently been opened up to me.

My resignation will take effect after a 30-day transition period to ensure the smooth and orderly turnover of my functions to my replacement.

I leave confident that the SBP is now stable, progressive, and unified enough to meet the challenges of the future with very strong basketball foundation in place.

I wish to thank all of the SBP members, our board of trustees, most especially our president MVP, all our SBP officers, and the entire basketball community for all their support and for according me the rare privilege and honor to serve the sport we all love.

Basketball will always be in my blood and I will forever be indebted to it.

UPDATE: Here is the statement released by SBP Vice Chairman Ricky Vargas:

Mr Noli Eala, two days ago in a breakfast meeting, made known his desire to resign his post as Executiue Director of SAMAHANG BASKETBOL NG PILIPINAS to pursue a career in the corporate world.

Noli joined the SBP during it's most difficult years and was able to see thru succesfully the return of the Philippines in international basketball as a member in good standing of FIBA. He was instrumental in giving birth to the men's elite Smart Gilas and Nokia youth teams and the successful campaign of the women's Discovery Perlas team.

Noli likewise pushed for the improvement of officiating that paved the way for sbp trained referees to officiate in major leagues and invited to international FIBA tournaments. He lobbied and won for the SBP the right to host the FIBA Asia Champions Cup in May 2011.

While we understand the reasons behind Noli's motivation to move on, we have asked him to stay on as a member of the SBP board and serve out his term of office.

At the same time , he will continue his efforts in building international relationship with FIBA.

We wish Noli all the best.