Solar TV, which has been airing the PBA games since 2008, also offered to help the the pro league find a new broadcast partner to produce and air the games.

Officials of the PBA and the network had a meeting Tuesday night to discuss the matter. Details of the negotiations were not disclosed to the board.

League commissioner Chito Salud said nothing is definite at the moment regarding the setup.

Solar TV’s contract with the PBA expires at the end of August next year and the network had already informed the league that it will not seek renewal in line with the management’s decision to reformat its programming.

Salud said that the bidding for a new broadcast partner has been moved to January 2011, instead of June in the wake of Solar TV’s decision.

But despite the complications brought about by the imminent pullout of Solar TV, Salud assured PBA fans that they have nothing to worry about since the league will continue to exist, most probably in another network.

‘’One thing is sure -- the PBA will remain and fans have nothing to worry about. They will be able to continue enjoying the games whether it would be on Channel 9 or another network,” Salud said.

PBA chairman Rene Pardo, meanwhile, said the board reminded Solar TV that it should continue to air PBA games up to the end of the first conference.

‘’We also told them to look for a coveror that could help them take up the last two conferences, but that coveror has to be acceptable to the board of governors,’’ said Pardo.

In another development, the board remains upbeat on the possibility of putting up a Developmental League or D-League, subject to modification in terms of recruitment and the D-league’s relationship with the PBA.

‘’The target launch of the D-League is February or March, so hopefully, we could get the approval of the board,’’ said Salud.

‘’The board is of one mind that we definitely need a jump-off league going to the PBA,’’ said Pardo.

Jeric Lopez, Manila Standard Today