MANILA, Philippines – Although the main agenda in Tuesday’s meeting of the PBA Board of Governors is Barako Bull’s decision to leave, the serious intentions of oil company Phoenix to compete might be too big an issue for the team owners to overlook. “It might be tackled,” said Alaska governor and former PBA chairman Joaqui Trillo. “Of course the agenda is Barako Bull’s decision to pull out. But since there were reports that they’re selling the franchise to Phoenix, it’s possible (to discuss it).”
Barako Bull has informed the league about its decision to sell the franchise to the Davao-based petroleum company. Phoenix is no stranger to the PBA being the league’s sponsor in its provincial sorties.
Barako Bull reportedly has agreed to sell its franchise to Phoenix for P60 million.
If the sale is approved, Phoenix Fuel will also pay the PBA a separate acceptance fee of P6 million.
But its entry, which appeared to be imminent just a few weeks ago, has suddenly become uncertain following the decision of San Miguel Corporation to replace the name of its San Miguel Beer team to Petron.
That would make Phoenix a direct competitor of SMC.
“It will be difficult for them to join,” said a source, who asked not to be named.
Phoenix needs at least seven votes from the 10-team PBA. San Miguel has three votes and needs just one more to deny Phoenix PBA membership.
While there is no rule in the PBA Constitutions and By-Laws that prohibits “direct competition” on current teams in the league, ballclubs observe an unwritten rule of a lockout among its products.
Nevertheless, since Phoenix Fuel has already made known of its plans to join the league by purchasing the Barako Bull franchise, the only way for them to be included is through voting among the 10 PBA teams, including Barako Bull.
According to a source, six teams – Talk N Text, Meralco, Rain or Shine, Alaska, Powerade and Barako Bull – are already in support of Phoenix Fuel.
The swing vote, said a source, will be Air21.
“They will probably decide the fate of Phoenix Fuel,” he said.
But having two direct competitors playing in the PBA is not new.
The RFM franchise’s Swift Mighty Meaty was accepted in the early 1990s, which was then the direct rival of Purefoods in the processed meat business.
In 1999, Tanduay rejoined the PBA despite being considered a competitor of San Miguel.
Waylon Galvez, Manila Bulletin
