TERRAFIRMA will remain in the PBA after negotiations with the Zamboanga Valientes on the sale of its franchise fell through.
This was confirmed by PBA commissioner Willie Marcial.
“Ang Terrafirma ay patuloy pa rin na sasali sa atin,” said Marcial in a press conference held at halftime of Game Three of the Philippine Cup Finals between TNT and San Miguel.
READ No deal for Terrafirma and Valientes?
“Negotiations, nag-bog down. Hindi nag-materialize ‘yung deal ng dalawa,” Marcial added. “[Pero] twelve teams pa rin tayo sa 50th season.”
PBA legal counsel Ogie Narvasa said the Zamboanga Valientes, led by Junie Navarro, and the Terrafirma camp mutually decided not to pursue the sale.
“There were terms and requirements by both teams, hindi nag-meet. Alam niyo naman ang negotiations, may hinihingi ‘yung isa, mukhang hindi nagkasundo. It’s a mutual decision not to pursue the sale,” said Narvasa.
Narvasa added Terrafirma team governor Bobby Rosales is now in the process of beefing up the team's roster for the 50th season in October.
“Nung meeting, sinabi ni Governor Bobby na they have their plans already. They have plans to beef up their lineup. Hindi naman nila sinabi pa siyempre hindi nila sasabihin, strategy nila ‘yun," said Narvasa.
"But he has plans to beef up and have a full line-up,” added Narvasa.
READ Guiao confirms Pringle has signed two-year Rain or Shine deal
The Dyip U-turn comes as a surprise, considering team insiders confirmed that the ballclub disbanded shortly after the end of its season.
The PBA also allowed one of the Dyip's top players, Stanley Pringle, to sign with Rain or Shine as an unrestricted free agent after earlier declaring a moratorium on all transactions involving Terrafirma players.
At the moment, Marcial said there are seven Terrafirma players still under contract with the team, although the PBA commissioner didn’t mention their identities.
Terrafirma also owns the signing rights of four players, he added. That should include Aldrech Ramos and other Dyip players who moved to the MPBL at the end of the season.
Rosales didn't inform the board on whether or not their PBA franchise is still entertaining bids to acquire the franchise, said Narvasa.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
