LAS VEGAS – The sale of the NorthPort franchise and the grand plans for the celebration of the PBA’s golden year are the main agenda in the annual planning session of the league’s board of governors here.
PBA chairman Ricky Vargas and Commissioner Willie Marcial will preside over the meeting spread over three days to discuss the celebration of half a century of basketball - and the journey the league is set to chart beyond that.
SOURCES SAY Coaches confused as NorthPort trades Nelle during 'moratorium'
The new season marking the 50th anniversary of Asia’s first ever play-for-pay league starts on October 5.
Marcial said a review committee is set to report on the ongoing buyout of the NorthPort franchise by Pureblends Inc. after all pertinent documents especially financial statements of the company that specializes in food manufacturing were submitted to the board.
Comprising the review committee are Atty. Bill Pamintuan of Meralco, Atty. Raymond Zorilla of Phoenix, PBA legal counsel Atty. Ogie Narvaza, and Marcial.
“Magre-report sila Atty. Bill (Pamintuan) tungkol dun (NorthPort buyout),” said Marcial. “Kapag okay na sa review committee ia-akyat na namin sa board. Kapag okay na sa board at okay na 'yung negotiations, baka makasama natin sila [Pureblends] sa 50th season.”
With Northport’s sale still incomplete, the Batang Pier went on with the business of making the selections in Sunday’s Season 50 draft that saw the franchise pick Chris Koon at No. 4 overall, and CJ Austria, Mark Sangco, John Bryan Sajonia, Jonathan Gesalem, Jonas Tibayan, Kobe Bryant Pableo, Kenny Rogers Rocacurva, Kint Ariar, and Robi Nayve in succeeding rounds.
At the same time, the league will finalize the schedule of its golden season where several overseas outings are set to be played. However, the PBA needs to adjust its schedule again for Gilas Pilipinas’ campaign in the opening window of the qualifiers for the 2027 FIBA World Cup in Doha, Qatar.
New season format eyed
Also to be decided is the format to be adopted in the new season.
Last year, the league implemented the group format where the 12 teams were split into two groups of six members each during the season-opening Governors’ Cup.
To be tackled, too, is the possible entry of three foreign teams namely, Macau Black Bears, Hong Kong Eastern, and one from Indonesia.
And then there’s the special celebration of the PBA’s 50th year wherein players or their representatives will be tapped in a three-day gathering to start the season.
Making a report about the last season is television coveror TV5 Network Sports and Cignal TV as company bigwigs Jane Jimenez-Basas (president and CEO of Cignal), Gido Saballero (president and CEO of TV5) and Sienna Olaso (vice president, Channels and Content Management of Cignal TV) are in attendance, too.
Other members of the board present are Ronald Dulatre (NLEX), Robert Non (San Miguel), Siliman Sy (Blackwater), Archen Cayabyab (Converge), Alfrancis Chua (Barangay Ginebra), Jason Webb (Magnolia), and Atty. Mamerto Mondragon (Rain or Shine).
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