NORTHPORT could still end up having a hand in choosing players in Sunday’s PBA Rookie Draft as the league board deferred action on the sale of the franchise to Pureblends Corp.
Commissioner Willie Marcial said the board discussed the application of Pureblends to acquire the Batang Pier franchise lock, stock and barrel for P90 million on Wednesday when the body met at the league office in Libis.
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But financial statements by the incoming team which were submitted to the PBA during the meeting, still has to go through scrutiny by the review committee before being forwarded to the board for final approval.
The sale needs a two-thirds vote from the board to become final.
The delay means Northport officials will have to represent the franchise and make the selections instead of Pureblends given that the annual event is already set on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Music Hall.
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“Malamang Northport pa rin. Wala pa namang approval ng PBA board,” said Marcial.
The Batang Pier own the No. 5 overall selection in Sunday's drafting.
A day after the draft, the board will be holding its annual planning session in Las Vegas where possibly, the sale of the Northport franchise will be finalized.
Apart from the Northport deal, also tackled during the board meeting were the schedule of the coming Season 50 and preparations being made for the celebration of the league’s golden anniversary.
Board chairman Ricky Vargas presided over the meeting that lasted for about four hours and was joined by Marcial and vice-chairman Alfrancis Chua (Barangay Ginebra), treasurer Atty. Raymond Zorilla (Phoenix), and board of governors Atty. Mamerto Mondragon (Rain or Shine), Ronald Dulatre (NLEX), Siliman Sy (Blackwater), Atty. Bill Pamintuan (Meralco), Archen Cayabyab (Converge), Eric Arejola (Northport), Robert Non (San Miguel), and Jason Webb (Magnolia).
Webb, who replaced retired Magnolia official Rene Pardo, attended his second board meeting.
Only Bobby Rosales of Terrafirma was not around.
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