UNLESS a miracle happens, there will be no Terrafirma Dyip that will show up in the PBA’s 50th season.
Sources from inside the team told SPIN.ph that some of the key personalities of the team, from the team manager to consultants to the players, have already been informed about the franchise’s ‘disbandment.
In fact, most of the team officials are now scampering to join other teams in the MPBL or even in the UAAP and NCAA.
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“Kawawa ang mga staff ng team,” said the source. “Kaya sinabihan na lang namin sila na maghanap na kesa naman mabitin sila sa mga pamilya nila.”
At the moment, there is no word yet on what will happen to their players, especially the few with existing contracts like point guard Mark Nonoy, vastly improved Louie Sangalang, and center Kemark Carino.
Most of the big names in the Dyip’s roster, like Terrence Romeo and Stanley Pringle, had contracts that expired at the end of its last season. But their signing rights will be ceded to the company that buys the franchise.
But the franchise still has some major assets, including the No. 1 pick overall in the next PBA rookie draft and the PBA signing rights to ‘self-exiled’ big man Christian Standhardinger.
“It’s up to the Commissioner’s Office ano gagawin sa players namin,” he said.
No takers?
The last reported selling price of the Terrafirma franchise was P70 million, a big dip from its original cost of P100 million.
When it joined the PBA in 2014, the Columbian Autocar Corporation shelled out P100M to secure an expansion franchise then shelled out another P100M as bond for its continued participation in the league.
Still, a sale looked far from done. A deal that was reached with Basilan Starhorse was shelved when 'financial requirements' were not met while talks with the family that owns the Zamboanga Valientes have yet to be consummated.
Valientes’ founder Junnie Navarro is still busy in his role as newly elected councilor of Zamboanga City.
The Basilan Red Dynasty team of Jackson Chua, sources said, is setting its sight on either Northport Batang Pier or the Blackwater Bossing - both of which have superior lineups compared to the the Dyip.
“Akala ko okay na sila ng Valientes, so nag-hold back na kami. Pero yes may kinakausap na kaming bagong team. We’ll just finish our campaign in the current MPBL season then babalikan namin yung kausap namin,” said Chua.
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“For now, pwede pa naming balikan ang Terrafirma pero ang question is are they still open to talk and negotiate with us?” said the Viva Premiere Gaming chief executive.
Asked if he has already received any message from any of the staff of Terrafirma for help, Jackson replied with a yes.
“May mga lumalapit sa amin, so tignan ko saan ko sila pwede ipasok. Kawawa naman kasi kung di natin tutulungan,” said Chua who is also the chief backer of the San Sebastian Stags in the NCAA.
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