Arturo Cristobal

Arturo "Bai" Cristobal (born November 24, 1958) is a Filipino basketball figure, formerly a player and coach, and now an administrator. Cristobal played for the FEU Tamaraws in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), the Crispa Redmanizers, Presto Tivolis and the Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs in the professional Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), and the Philippines in the junior and senior levels, and coached the San Sebastian Stags and UPHR Altas in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines) (NCAA). Cristobal later became basketball commissioner of the NCAA for several seasons.

Playing career

Collegiate career In college, Cristobal played for on what is now the Universidad de Zamboanga and Far Eastern University (FEU). In 1977, Cristobal was found to have been playing in a ligang labas game, and FEU's finals berth was forfeited. Cristobal was part of the Turo Valenzona-coached 1979 FEU Tamaraws team that won UAAP Season 42.

Cristobal was a part of the Philippine junior team that won the 1978 FIBA Asia Under-18 Championship, and participated in the 1979 FIBA Under-19 World Championship, and the Philippine senior team that participated in the 1979 ABC Championship.

Professional career Cristobal started his professional career with the Crispa Redmanizers in 1981; he was part of the 1983 grand slam-winning team. When Crispa's franchise was bought out by Pilipinas Shell, he was the one of the pioneer players of the Shell Azodrin Bugbusters in 1985. Cristobal then went on to play for the Presto Tivoli from 1988 to 1989, went to Purefoods in 1990, then returned with the Tivolis in 1991.

Coaching career He coached the San Sebastian Stags in 1997, leading them to their fifth consecutive NCAA title, with the first four titles being won by his former college coach Valenzona. Cristobal next coached the UPHR Altas for eight years starting in NCAA Season 76. Cristobal's Altas stint was capped by a runner-up finish in NCAA Season 80, and the 2004 National Inter-Collegiate championship.

Sports administration career Cristobal was first named NCAA basketball commissioner in 2014, succeeding Joe Lipa, with whom he was the assistant commissioner. Cristobal supported the referees during the bench clearing brawl between the EAC Generals and Mapua Cardinals during NCAA Season 90, where he had called to have the game abandoned to hand EAC the victory. Cristobal was also the NCAA commissioner during the pandemic tournament during NCAA Season 97.

Cristobal is also one of the administrators of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.

Coaching record