PBA defers decision on TV issue

The Philippine Basketball Association board of governors once again deferred making a decision on its search for a new television partner as it received formal proposals from NBN-4 and Jemah Productions. However, a reliable source said ABC-5 remained the top choice with a number of board members having cast their votes on the network.

The same source said these governors skipped the meeting yesterday as they have given their nod on ABC-5 during their meeting Monday at the New World Hotel.

"The board decided to defer because of several events that happened in the interim. Jemah’s proposal came moments before the board meeting ended yesterday (Monday) and NBN-4 also came up with its formal proposal. Because of these new developments, the board decided to defer any decision," said commissioner Noli Eala.

"The board realized the decision it has to make has far-reaching effect. It’s crucial for the PBA. So they will look at all the angles and all options," Eala added.

The commissioner said the board "will have a working Christmas" as it will meet again Friday, hopefully to finally make the decision.

Eala said ABC-5, Jemah and NBN-4–now on its own minus its previous partners IBC-13 and Summit Sports–have varying proposals, which the board wanted to study thoroughly.

There were reports that all three were proposing a joint venture with the league.

Jemah, the outfit that broadcast in the country the recent Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam, offered to produce, finance and market the league with the revenues to be split three ways–Jemah itself, the PBA and its proposed carrying station IBC-13. Their proposed play dates are Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Jemah is willing to make an advance payment to the league.

NBN-4, meanwhile, is offering to make the production and the use of its staff with the marketing task given to the PBA.

This way, NBN-4 said it would be able to pay its arrears to the PBA in the form of production cost and airtime fee.

"Pare-pareho kaming nalugi (in the previous deal). Sana naman pabayaan nila kaming makabawi," an NBN-4 top executive, who requested anonymity, told The STAR.

Meanwhile, two potential first-round picks beefed up the PBA draft pool as James Yap and Willy Wilson made themselves available for the draft yesterday.

Twenty-four names are now in the pool, including other marquee players Richard Alvarez, Wesley Gonzales, Paul Artadi.

In another development, the Fiesta Conference will feature foreign teams starting in its quarterfinal phase.

And the commissioner is going through hell and high water to make sure the teams that will visit the country will offer more than just token challenges.

"We will make sure that the teams that will come here will make a serious run for the Fiesta Cup," said Eala.

Invitations have been fanned out to the Japan pro league, the National Basketball League of Australia and the Angola national team to join the Fiesta Conference. Only two of the three invitations will get slots to the PBA’s transition tournament, though.

The Japan pro league is one of the most Westernized leagues in Asia, similar to that of the PBA, and has been one of the favorite stops of PBA imports like former Red Bull reinforcement Tony Lang. Japan was one of the countries that gave the Philippines a scare in the Busan Asian Games.

Australia, on the other hand, has consistently produced National Basketball Association talents like Luc Longley, a member of the famed Chicago Bulls champion teams, Mark Bradtke, Shane Heal and Andrew Gaze. The Australian team Melbourne Tigers split two games with the Philippine team to the Busan Asiad in a pair of exhibition matches here.