PBA media bureau chief and special assistant to the commissioner Willie Marcial is confident the board will give the green light to all three companies applying for expansion teams in the league.
The league official said his optimism is based on how governors from the 10 existing teams show no opposition to the intent of Blackwater Sports, Columbia Auto Corp. and Metro Pacific investments.
They Said It!
“Naniniwala ako na makakapasok lahat yung tatlo." PBA media bureau chief Willie Marcial
"Ako, naniniwala ako na makakapasok lahat yung tatlo," sais Marcial, a few hours before the board convened for the final interview of the three applicants.
"Wala akong nararamdaman na pagtutol sa mga teams," he added.
Maecial at the same time reiterated how the PBA is set to rewrite history as the league welcomes three new ballclubs, the most since Pepsi and Sarsi joined the PBA in 1990.
"History in the making to kapag nagkataon. Kasi never pa may pumasok sa PBA na tatlong teams na sabay-sabay," he said.
"Ibig sabihan nun. Talagang buhay na buhay ulit ang PBA dahil na rin sa mga records na naitatala natin sa mga nakalipas na season," said the assistant to commissioner Chito Salud.
If all three teams are given the green light, the league will have its highest membership of 13 since it was put up in 1975.
Starting at around 2 p.m., the 10-man board of governors together with Salud and the league directors met separately with the representatives of the three applicants.
NLEX president Rodrigo Franco and his chief lieutwnant Ronald Dulatre and Metro Pacific Investments head Mon Fernandez met with the board first, followed by Ginia Domingo of Columbia, distributor of Kia cars in the country, and Blackwater Sports team owner and Ever Bilena president Dioceldo Sy.
Marcial is optimistic that a decision on the applicants may be released within the day.
"Malamang ngayon malalaman natin," said Marcial.
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