MANILA, Philippines - The PBA board of governors convenes today to decide on key issues, including the plan of its official TV coveror, Solar Sports, to transfer the telecast of PBA games from RPN-9 to Studio-23 in the season’s last two conferences. Solar Sports is awaiting the PBA board’s approval.
The number of teams competing in the inaugural PBA Developmental League will also be finalized in the same meeting set at the PBA office in Libis, Quezon City.
The board is likely to approve the broadcast transfer to Studio-23 since it has no other choice in the absence of available timeslot on major VHF channels.
“We have to make a decision due to time constraints. We can’t delay it since the second conference opens in less than two weeks,” said board chairman Rene Pardo.
“We will make a decision that is favorable to PBA as a whole,” Pardo added.
Solar Sports is forced to bring the PBA telecast over to Studio-23 since RPN-9 is reformatting its programs, going heavy on news and current affairs.
TV-5, owned by Talk n Text and Meralco owner Manny Pangilinan, bids to take over the production but couldn’t offer its primetime occupied by the “Willing Willie” show.
Solar Sports won’t cede either its RPN-9 timeslot to TV-5.
“What’s left is IBC-13 which is unacceptable to the PBA,” said a STAR source.
“Much as the board wants to accede to the PBA team owners’ instruction for the league to stick with VHF, the board may have no choice but to say yes to UHF,” the same source added.
That’s for the duration of the league’s three-year contract with Solar Sports ending at the close of the 2010-11 season.
Meanwhile, San Beda is the latest team to express intention to play in the PBA D-League.
The prospective participants sit down in a meeting with PBA officials this afternoon.
Majority of the 12 teams which expressed interest are likely to pursue their participation in the D-League set to be launched in March.
In another PBA exercise this afternoon, PBA operations chief Rickie Santos supervises the conduct of the dispersal draft among Barako Bull players.
Only a few players, however, can find takers with the surplus of players in the league today.
“Di siguro, baka makagulo pa,” said Talk n Text coach Chot Reyes when asked if he’s drafting any player.
Derby Ace coach Jorge Gallent and Air21 team manager Allan Gregorio said they would take a look at Pong Escobal and Marvin Cruz, respectively.
Nelson Beltran, Philippine Star
