Stalled SBP formation
weighs down on PBA

BY NOLI CORTEZ

THE longer it takes to form a unified cage body in the country, the bigger the toll on the PBA.

"It is really weighing down on us. Hirap kaming gumalaw," PBA commissioner Noli Eala told Malaya in a phone interview yesterday, referring to the stalled efforts to form the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.

"One of the objectives of the PBA, outside of the commercial aspects, is the national team program. With this impasse, we are at a loss on how to go about drawing up our own plans with our national team program in mind," he added.

The PBA Board is set to meet Monday with the developments in the SBP’s formation and RP Team plans foremost in the agenda.

"The (unification) problem may be solved today or as long as three years from now. In any event, the PBA will be ready," league chairman Ricky Vargas said in a separate interview.

"The PBA is very supportive of the SBP and the unification process because we are cognizant of the need for the country to send its very best team abroad," added Vargas.

Efforts to form the SBP with the participation of the Basketball Association of the Philippines hit a snag when the BAP ousted Sen. Jinggoy Estrada from his post as president, thus scuttling an agreement between business mogul Manny Pangilinan and Estrada forged in Hong Kong before Christmas.

In that meeting, Estrada agreed to be the SBP chairman, with Pangilinan as president. This, however, infuriated the BAP Board which claimed that Estrada acted on his own. The BAP Board also wants the new group to be known as BAP.

Estrada, however, said he remains in constant communication with BAP officials and members, hoping a peaceful solution to the problem can be arrived at.

Should the BAP change its mind, make the unification process a reality and the country is able to return to the international arena, first up for the RP Team will be the SEABA tournament in May, followed by the Asian qualifying for the 2008 Beijing Olympics in July.

Eala said his office has already come up with some raw plans for such a scenario. "We definitely have some adjustments to do in the scheduling and format to support the national team. All our adjustments have to be in line with the national team program," he said.

None are too appealing, however, in terms of the PBA’s financial projections.

"All our total games must meet our financial objectives," said Eala. "There will definitely be an impact on our financial objectives."

"The PBA will have to make certain sacrifices. Everything will be done at risk," Vargas pointed out.

Eala bared the ideas his office has lined up.

"First, we can change our format and keep the same schedule, but shorten the eliminations. The negative side is, the exposure of the teams will be shortened.

"Second, we keep the same format, but hold more games, meaning if we are currently holding eight games a week, we make it 10. The drawback is fatigue factor might set in. It will affect the quality of the games.