The forthcoming PBA 2010-2011 season appears headed for an exciting year as two teams make a new beginning and expect to kick-start the new season on high gear.
A meeting of the PBA board of governors agreed to allow the new owners of the Sta Lucia Reality franchise to change the name to Meralco while the B-Meg Derby Aces who lost coach Ryan Gregorio to Meralco changed their name to Petron which is owned by San Miguel Corporation.
PBA Deputy Commissioner Atty. Chito Salud, son of the extremely successful former pro league commissioner Rudy Salud told us that “these two teams and corporations (Meralco and Petron) are leaders in corporate governance and are movers of integrity and credibility” and their participation in the PBA would give the pro league a welcome boost.
Insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports also learned that there are those who are considering the involvement of Maynilad where former PBA chairman Ricky Vargas was recently appointed President and CEO as another likely candidate to further enhance the PBA and provide an additional social advocacy link along the lines of the thrust of the new Meralco franchise.
There was talk that the possible acquisition of the Barako Bull franchise by Maynilad would ensure a strengthening of the team whose line-up has been decimated because of financial problems. In fact the team monicker “Aquamen” was being bandied around in the corridors of the PBA.
Since Sta Lucia had traded two of its superstars Kelly Williams and Ryan Reyes to Talk N’ Text and Meralco who is represented by Ramon Segismundo as governor has asked the board for some concessions to make the team competitive.
Meralco has asked that each team protects nine players which would enable the new team to acquire the rights of selected players who are not protected. In addition Meralco asked for the top two draft picks in the second round.
The requests will be studied by the PBA Ex-Com along with the Man-Com before a decision is made.
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