THE owner of the Starhorse Basilan team is hoping that the Terrafirma Dyip franchise which his company is set to acquire will keep its word and no longer trade the remaining players of its PBA team until the sale is consummated.
In a chat with SPIN.ph, businessman/sportsman Jackson Chua is hopeful that there will be no more movements from the Dyip now that the process is underway for the sale of the 10-year old PBA franchise lock, stock, and barrel.
“Meron na kaming initial verbal agreement (with Terrafirma) na wala nang mangyayaring movement kasi nasa transaction process na kami. So, we believe that,” said Chua, owner of the posh Red Dynasty Seafoods Restaurant.
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“Kasi ang concerns ng fans is if mawawala ang remaining key players ng team. Mahihirapan kami bumuo, wala ka nang trade asset, so sa draft ka aasa, ilang taon yun? And they assured that,” Chua said.
"Syempre, kami, gusto namin competitive agad kami kahit papano," he added.
Chua is no longer new to basketball, being the architect of the 2000 MPBL contender team Basilan Steel that lost the championship by default due to the regional league's Covid-19 protocol.
He aired his plea amid rumors that several teams, including San Miguel, are eyeing Terrafirma youngsters Kemark Carino and Louie Sangalang to reinforce the paint, currently patrolled by June Mar Fajardo.
Underutilized big man Moala Tautuaa can be part of the package.
Chua, however, bared that Terrafirma management, led by team governor Bobby Rosales and concultant Joe Lipa, has already denied the rumor in a meeting held at his Red Dynasty Restaurant a few days ago.
“Sabi naman nila, intact daw ang mangyayari (na sale) if ever,” said the 40-year-old businessman, who is also one of the stakeholders of the Starhorse Shipping Lines that ply the route of Lucena, Romblon and Masbate.
Chua bared he has completed all requirements for the sale and is only awaiting the deliberation of the PBA board before he officially consummates the reported 100-million peso takeover of the Terrafirma ballclub.
“Nag-usap na kami ng Terrafirma sa terms of payment, naka-usap ko na rin ang PBA and nakapagpasa na kami ng necessary documents to support yung application namin. May letter of intent na rin kami. Sana i-approve nila kasi ready na kami."
No direct competition with NorthPort
Chua also allayed fears that Starhorse may be vetoed by NorthPort under the 'lockout clause' that gives a PBA member to keep out a direct competitor.
"Ang concern kasi ata is 'yung conflict with Northport," he said. "[Pero] hindi naman kami direct competitor ng Northport kasi sila port and docking ng ship, kami shipping. So, wala dapat conflict dun.”
The PBA is very strict when it comes to the application of new franchises. It has reportedly turned down the entries of Chooks-to-Go, as Magnolia is currently being represented in the league, and Phoenix back in 2011 when SMB was still using the Petron Blaze brand.
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But what if the PBA board turns down his application?
“Well, try ulit kami next time kasi hindi naman siguro mahirap kasi may mga nag-a-apply na iba pang companies, so pwedeng dalawa agad na sabay,” he said.
Meanwhile, another source told SPIN.ph that so far, there is no known buyer of the Terrafirma franchise except for Starhorse as Strong Group Athletics was reportedly ‘snubbed’ by Dyip management before negotiations could begin two years ago.
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