MBA eyes NBN 4 for '02

The Metropolitan Basketball Association virtually ended its four-year partnership with broadcasting giant ABS-CBN yesterday while hoping to start a new one with NBN 4 beginning next season.

"Definitely, ABS-CBN will not be around as our partners next year but there is NBN 4 to help us," Ramon Tuason, MBA director for marketing and business development, told The STAR yesterday.

Tuason said he already submitted to the MBA board late Tuesday the final draft to be signed by both the MBA and NBN 4.

"We’re just ironing out the remaining kinks and we expect to finalize our plans with the new TV station soon," added Tuason.

He, however, clarified that the league will still work hand in hand with ABS-CBN on the games’ telecast through The Filipino Channel, which connects to Filipino audience to the United States.

In addition, ABS-CBN will still provide the production crew whenever the MBA holds its games in the south.

"ABS-CBN may not be there for us most of the time next year but they will still be there to help us in our trips to the south and, of course, through The Filipino Channel," Tuason said.

At the same time, Tuason announced that aside from the current roster of eight squads, two other teams — Pangasinan and Pampanga — had confirmed their participation next year.

Meanwhile, Socsargen-Taguig drew big games from Arnold Rodriguez, Bong Alvarez and Egay Echavez as it turned back TPG Davao, 122-116, yesterday in the second phase of the 2001 MBA season at the Tinga Gym in Taguig. — Joey Villar