PBL exec sees favorable ruling

Philippine Basketball League chairman Dioseldo Sy yesterday expressed optimism the league will get a favorable ruling from Malacañang with regard to its appeal to reverse the Games and Amusements Board decision declaring it as a pro league.

"If you’re going to ask me, I’m 90 percent sure Malacanang will reverse the GAB decision which declared the PBL as a professional league," Sy told The Star.

Sy, however, refused to identify his sources whom he said have been supporting their bid to reverse the GAB ruling last week although one name mentioned was that of Ding Panganiban, the newly-appointed Secretary of the Department of Agriculture who is one of the founding board members of the league in 1983.

As this developed, Sy disclosed they have acquired former Pasig-Rizal guard Warren Ybañez to play for Shark Energy Drink when the team tangles with sister team Blu Sun Power in today’s resumption of the PBL Challenge Cup semifinal round at the Makati Coliseum.

Ybañez was the player Blu expelled and banned from playing with the team late in the 1999 season for playing outside the DSS Productmakers-owned ballclub.

"We’re getting him back to boost our team’s chances this conference," said Sy.

The Power Boosters show the way with an 8-2 (win-loss) slate with the Welcoat Paint Masters a half-game behind at 8-3. The Detergent Kings and Montana Jewellers are tied for third spot with 6-4 records.

Meanwhile, Boysen Paints and Dazz Dishwashing Paste gun for the second PYBL championship berth as they tangle at 3:30 p.m. Skyland Estate Homes clinched the first finals slot following a 90-71 triumph over Mercury Freight the other day. — Joey Villar