Ron Jacobs suffers stroke?

National team head coach Ron Jacobs reportedly suffered a stroke last Sunday evening and was rushed to the St. Luke’s Memorial Hospital in Quezon City where he is confined at the neuro intensive care unit (ICU).

Jacobs, who is busy preparing the national team that will see action in next year’s Asian Games in Pusan, Korea, was admitted into the hospital at 9:58 p.m. Dr. Eduardo delos Reyes is attending to the American coach.

Hospital sources said Jacobs, who will turn 59 tomorrow, was brought to the hospital from his residence at the GBL Condominiums in Pasig City. His condition was being closely monitored by doctors yesterday afternoon, the sources said.

Jong Uichico, Jacobs’ protégé at San Miguel Beer and his chief assistant with the Pusan-bound national team, and Allan Caidic, the Ginebra coach and a former SMB player, were among the early visitors. Uichico was seen yesterday on the third floor of the hospital where a room reserved for Jacobs’ visitors was booked.

Once his condition improves, Jacobs will most likely be transferred to the Ambassador’s Suite located on the fifth floor where he will recuperate. The suite, according to sources, belongs to businessman Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco and that no patient is admitted there without his permission.

Jacobs was born Dec. 27, 1942 in Los Angeles, California.

He was named head coach of the RP team bound for the Asian Games by Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) commissioner Jun Bernardino. His experience and expertise in the international amateur competitions, and a winning record against Chinese squads led to his appointment.

Meanwhile, the PBA has given FedEx more time to prepare the essential documents pertaining to its planned entry into the PBA next year by rescheduling tomorrow’s special board meeting to Jan. 3.

The sale of the Tanduay franchise to FedEx, sealed between the top officials of both camps two weeks ago, was tackled by the board last Dec. 18 at the Manila Golf Club where the transfer of the RFM franchise to San Miguel Corp. was also approved.

To become the newest member of the PBA, FedEx, however, needs a two-thirds vote – or six of nine – from the board, which called on FedEx officials to submit more documents representing its company profile and financial viability.

The Tanduay-FedEx deal worth P75 million was signed by Tanduay CEO Wilson Young and FedEx president Lito Alvarez. Under the agreement, FedEx was to pay a P25 million downpayment with the balance to be paid by installment over the next four years.

The RFM franchise being transferred to SMC also needed a two-thirds vote from the board, and sources said the giant food and beverage firm got more than it needed when it garnered seven of the nine votes.

Tanduay reportedly voted in favor of SMC and, in return, might get a bigger favor from SMC which has two votes – those of San Miguel Beer and Ginebra – and another one from Pop Cola. Purefoods, the other team under the SMC umbrella, has lost its right to vote.

"What has been approved was just the transfer of the RFM franchise to Cosmos (being purchased by SMC). The right to vote was not even tackled," said PBA commissioner Jun Bernardino when asked if the RFM franchise had already lost its voting privilege.

"Eventually, when the sale is completed, then it becomes the fourth team of San Miguel. Only after that may the board, under the terms of the constitution, impose such terms and conditions that would be applicable to the situation," Bernardino added.