Big firms knocking on PBA door

Though it’s not among his priorities, PBA commissioner Noli Eala said yesterday possible league expansion is worth looking into with the big surplus of players at the moment and with four large corporations expressing interest to join the league.

"It’s not among my priorities in the initial part of the year and neither of the board. Pero sa dami ng available players, including unrestricted players who have yet to find a team, there’s real opportunity to study it," Eala told The STAR.

Eala thinks 12 to 14 teams are more ideal than 10 insofar as scheduling and conducting a tournament are concerned. He said: "With 12 to 14 teams, you can have more variety, mas maganda ang putahe. In bracketing, you can really have a tournament within a tournament."

The league commissioner, however, said talks about league expansion would surely depend on the country’s economic situation. He said: "There’s no formal resolution in the board about expansion. If ever, economy would play a big factor here."

At least four companies have been inquiring about the possibility of joining the league as extension ball clubs. Eala said these are "big companies" but refused to divulge their identities.

The STAR source said Petron Corp. is one of them. However, current league by-laws bar Petron from joining the league, being an industry rival of Shell.

Welcoat Paint is another company which has long been applying for a PBA franchise.

The PBA roster of unrestricted free agents gained new additions as only 27 of 46 hopefuls were picked in the 2004 PBA Rookie Draft last Friday at the Glorietta in Makati.

Among the 19 players not drafted were former MBA mainstay Lou Gatumbato, PBL veterans Nurjan Alfad, Alvin Pua, Tristan Codamon and Julius Binuya and UE products Jay-Arr Estrada and Arnold Booker.

Meanwhile, where John Arigo would go remains a big question as Alaska Milk is still looking for a good trade deal involving the 6-foot-1 Fil-Am guard.

Red Bull Barako expressed interest in the player but Alaska has yet to decide on what to ask from the Photokina Marketing Corp. franchise in return.

Over at Shell, the team released its premier pointguard Dale Singson to San Miguel but it’s not in search of a replacement in the same position.

"Coach John Moran’s style is to play the team around. Walang pointguard. Did you notice in the NBA, wala na ring specific pointguard," said Shell top official Bobby Kanapi.

On their top pick Rich Alvarez, Kanapi said negotiation for his contract would start after his stint with Welcoat Paints in the ongoing PBL Unity Cup.