The looming impasse could be triggered if Salud’s preference for a one-conference participation for the national team, the use of the name ‘Pilipinas’ on the players’ jerseys and nothing else, and a no-revenue policy – “TV, sponsorship, gate” – for both Barako Bull and Smart Gilas is opposed by Vargas during Tuesday’s owners meeting at EDSA Shangri-La Plaza in Mandaluyong.

Barako owner George Chua has offered last Thursday to give up his slot in the second conference to allow Smart Gilas, whose bid to be accepted as a guest team initially received cold response from the league, to come in and compete as part of its training preparation – a move PBA Chairman Rene Pardo had welcomed and called a “win-win” situation.

Chua said he learned of Smart Gilas’ plight and decided to make a “small” sacrifice.

“This in an opportunity for us to be of service to the national team,” Chua told Bulletin-Tempo. Under the proposal, Barako will sit out the next conference and then regroup for the third leg of the season, also an import-flavored phase.

Early indications point to a clash in opinion, however.

Saturday morning at the L’Fisher Hotel in this Negros Occidental capital, Vargas came short of labeling as illogical Salud’s recommendation disallowing the national team to use the name Smart Gilas should it suit up for the second conference.

“Bakit yung Northern Consolidated noon pinayagan?” Vargas said. “It’s hard to find logic why it can’t be called the name it’s been known for. I need to understand why they want to remove Smart Gilas [and use only Pilipinas]? What are they trying to achieve by doing that?”

The Philippine basketball team coached by American Ron Jacobs from 1980 to 1986, and which featured players like Jeff Moore, Dennis Still, Chip Engelland, Allan Caidic and Samboy Lim, went by the name Northern Consolidated Cement.

Tito Talao, Manila Bulletin