Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas vice chairman Ricky Vargas said they intend to include the two Phl Youth standouts in the men’s training pool they hope will be allowed to play as guest team in the PBA reinforced tourney.

Ravena and Baser have just completed their eligibility in high school ball with Ateneo and San Beda, respectively.

If ever, they would be the first players to play in the PBA straight from high school since Terry Saldana of Letran.

But the PBA board has to resolve a number of concerns first.

PBA commissioner Chito Salud has said he would recommend that the board accept Barako’s offer to temporarily yield its spot to Smart Gilas on conditions that the training team plays only under the banner of “Team Pilipinas” and that Barako and Team Pilipinas won’t share in the league revenues.

Vargas, an SBP top official and a PBA governor, is against these conditions.

He’s the one presenting the national team program during the PBA team owners meeting Tuesday at the Edsa Shangri-La Plaza in Mandaluyong.

“Northern Cement was allowed to use its name. The team now is Smart Gilas, and we’ve sponsored the league in the past. It’s hard to find the logic why we cannot call it the name it’s known for,” said Vargas.

“I’m making the presentation to the owners. I’ll tell them please give us the chance to show to the public Smart Gilas. Smart spends for Smart Gilas. We spend P70 million a year. Secondly, there’s no competitor except Talk n Text (a sister brand),” Vargas added.

On revenues, Vargas said all 10 PBA ball clubs, including Barako Bull, must benefit from whatever Smart Gilas’ participation brings in.

“I don’t think it should be revenues divided by nine. Everybody should benefit from Smart Gilas’ participation,” Vargas said.

“One-tenth should rebound back to the franchise (Barako). It adds to the Barako Bull equity; it improves the equity; you don’t cheapen the franchise,” Vargas added.

Vargas said one-conference stint is good for them although they prefer two conferences.

“Allowing us to play is good enough. We can start from there,” he said.

Meanwhile, the league commissioner gave his nod yesterday on the three-way trade deal sending Sol Mercado to Meralco and JayR Reyes to Air21.

Aside from Mercado and Reyes, five other players found themselves in a new team as a result of the deal entered into by Meralco, Air21 and Rain or Shine.

Rain or Shine got Ronjay Buenafe, Beau Belga and Ronnie Matias plus the two draft rights in giving away Mercado, Reyes and Paolo Bugia.

Mercado, Bugia and Air21’s Eric Rodriguez moved over to Meralco while Reyes joined Reed Juntilla in Air21.

At first, the league commissioner expressed reservations on whether Rain or Shine got a fair deal.

Nelson Beltran, Philippine Star