PBL keen to bring in Pop Cola five

The Philippine Basketball League Executive Council, composed of the regular voting members headed by chairman Dioceldo Sy, agreed in principle yesterday to allow Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc. to field a second team beginning in the second conference of the curent season.

Expected to carry the brand name of Pop Cola, the team seems likely to be accepted subject to terms and conditions to be laid out by the council. The group, however, sought for more time in order to craft the Memorandum of Agreement being prepared for franchise applicant CCBPI.

The council felt it was not necessary for Pop Cola to secure a franchise, since Coca-Cola has already applied for one with the entry of Viva Mineral Water earlier this year.

"There has been precedent for something like this in the PBL before," said commissioner Chino Trinidad. "When Para-lux competed along with Welcoat in 1998, same with Blu and Boom in 2000, and when Dazz dueled with Ateneo-Hapee just two years ago."

Chairman Sy said, "We are happy that such an esteemed brand name and a very established corporation has expressed willingness to increase its investment in the PBL. It’s only a matter of having an understanding with Pop Cola regarding competition and administrative matters before they are formally admitted."