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Worst-case scenario: Barako might play in 3rd conference, says team exec


Barako Bull board representative Raffy Casyao is bracing for the best — and the worst — for the team’s future when the Philippine Basketball Association board meets on Tuesday at the PBA Office in Libis, Quezon City. Up in the agenda are the fate of Barako Bull, which has proposed the transfer of its franchise to prospective buyer Phoenix Petroleum, and the terms of reference for the league’s next coveror in the 37th season, according to PBA commissioner Atty. Chito Salud. “The board meeting was reset several times as chairman Rene Pardo of B-Meg Derby Ace wants attendance in full," said Salud. "But these are the matters that will be discussed in the meeting." Phoenix Petroleum’s possible entry is expected to entail careful deliberation, as the rising petroleum company from the south is a direct competitor of Petron, which is owned by San Miguel Corporation. This early, SMC has already notified the board on the planned name change for its mother team, San Miguel Beer, into Petron Blaze 100, making the brand a direct competitor should Phoenix Petroleum be accepted.

Members of the PBA board headed by Rene Pardo of B-Meg Derby Ace (fourth from right) will once again meet to discuss the fate of Barako Bull's proposed transfer to Phoenix Petroleum GMANews.TV
But Casyao sees nothing wrong with direct competition among team participants in the pro league. Basically, he referred to the precedents regarding direct competition in the league through the years. Teams such as Crispa and U-Tex, Royal and 7-Up, Gold Eagle Beer and Beer Hausen, Tanduay Rhum and Ginebra, and Purefoods and Swift, all direct competitors, battled it out in the league one season or another. “I hope the board will realize that," said Casyao. “I don’t see anything wrong with it. But in the end, it's the board which will decide." But a league source who requested anonymity said the board may be concerned more about the direct competition in advertising. “There’s a lockout rule in advertisements during the league’s coverage," said the source. “But as far as direct competition among teams playing, I don’t think there’s a provision that prohibits competing brands from playing in the PBA." Aware that the team’s prospective buyer is a direct competitor of a PBA squad, and in the event that Barako's transfer to Phoenix Petroleum is turned down, Casyao mulled the possibility of having Barako Bull make a comeback in the season-ending Third Conference. “The worst-case scenario for us is that we might be forced to come back and compete in the Third Conference," said Casyao. “That’s because our team has no other buyers for now. We only entertain serious buyers." "Bottom line, we don't want to lose our PBA franchise for nothing he added." Pilipinas-Smart Gilas temporarily took over the slot of Barako Bull, which filed a leave of absence prior to the start of the import-laced Second Conference. But the Nationals are still uncertain on whether to join the season-ending conference. The team, which is preparing for the Olympic-qualifying FIBA Asia Championship this year, is also set to see action in the annual William Jones Cup tournament in Taipei. Casyao said they still have available players left, and some of them are still receiving their salaries. - KY, Rey Joble, GMA News
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