The PBA board of governors approved commissioner Chito Salud’s recommendation to shelve it unless a third party comes in, undertakes the construction and gives the naming rights to the cage league.

That’s almost impossible, making this PBA dream just as that – a dream.

But Salud seemed to have no regrets .

“It falls outside the core mandate of the PBA. Running a coliseum is not the purpose of the PBA family,” Salud told The STAR recently.

“Without a third party, the PBA can’t afford to build it at this time,” added Salud.

It was one of the main topics in the landmark meeting among the PBA team owners last January. The league top principals had ordered the commissioner to make a study and final recommendation on the proposed project.

Salud presented his recommendation during the PBA board meeting Tuesday at the PBA office in Libis, Quezon City. And the board gave it unanimous approval.

“My recommendation is to shelve it unless there is a third party who will be willing to undertake the construction of a coliseum, giving the naming rights to the PBA as its home in exchange for a token equity from the members of the PBA to make it more affordable,” said Salud.

Of course, the big question is who would be that third party who would be willing to build that coliseum for the PBA.

This could well be the PBA’s way out in this long on-and-off PBA coliseum talks.

This had been discussed as early as the time of PBA commissioner Jun Bernardino.

During the term of Noli Eala, the PBA looked at the possibility of a tie-up with the Quezon City government to build the coliseum in the North Triangle area.

Under Sonny Barrios’ watch and with Smart-PLDT’s Ricky Vargas as board chair, the PBA went to the extent of making several project studies.

Before the current season began, the board appointed former league chairman Buddy Encarnado to also make his studies.

\Nelson Beltran, Philippine Star