PBA tackles expansion, restrictions on trading

An ambitious expansion plan and the lifting of trade restrictions between Air21 and Talk N Text are some of the matters to be tackled by the board members of the Philippine Basketball Association today.

PBA chairman Lito Alvarez told Standard Today that he had asked commissioner Sonny Barrios to make an audio visual presentation of the league “for potential company applicants.”

Barrios said he had already prepared an AVP and will ask few more recommendations from the other board members.

“We had a ready AVP for the board,” said Barrios. “It was Chairman Lito’s idea. He wants a more professional and more corporate presentation for the interested companies seeking to join the PBA. What should be added in the AVP will be evaluated in the board meeting.”

Alvarez added that the league is looking to add two more franchises next season, which will up the number of participating squads to 12. But he explained that they have yet to identify the two teams qualified to join the country’s premier pro league, this despite unconfirmed reports of Meralco’s interest in entering the PBA.

“We have yet to identify them,” said Alvarez. “As far as Meralco’s participation, I guess the best way for it, if ever they’re really interested, is for them to play first either in the Liga Pilipinas or the Philippine Basketball League. If ever nagustuhan nila ‘yung value ng market of owning a basketball team, then that’s the time they should think entering the pro league.”

Also up for discussion is the trade restrictions imposed on Talk N Text and Air21.

Last season, Air21 decided to carry the name Burger King, one of the companies owned by the Lina Group of Companies. Burger King is a fast-food company jointly owned by Bert Lina, Lito Alvarez, Wilson Young and Manny V. Pangilinan and Ricky Vargas of Smart Communications, which owns Talk N Text.

Pangilinan and Vargas’ involvement with Burger King raised questions from the other board members if the Whopper and the Tropang Texters are sister teams. To avoid conflicting ideas, Alvarez volunteered to have trade restrictions imposed between Burger King and Talk N Text, which won’t be allowed to directly trade players.