Eala mulls Division II tournament

Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) commissioner Noli Eala said the other day he’s thinking of drafting a proposal to the Board of Governors for a Division II tournament in the Visayas and Mindanao during the league’s three-month break before the next season opens in October.

Eala noted that because there are only 10 PBA teams, a slew of topnotch players cannot be accommodated in rosters, leaving a large pool of free agents. Each year, about 13 to 15 rookies make their PBA debuts and with no new additions to the list of franchises, displacement is rampant. Of course, it makes for increased competitive parity and raises the level of quality players in the league.

Eala said a possibility is to allow co-branding in Division II so that costs can be shared and no single sponsor is made to carry the brunt of expenses.

"There could be 10 teams in Division II," he continued. "You could call it a farm league for the PBA because it could serve as a tryout stage for free agents and rookies. To make it even more interesting, we could elevate the champion team to play in the PBA regular season as a guest."

In Europe, the system of employing Division I and II tournaments under the management of a single league is common. At the end of each season, the last two Division I clubs are demoted to Division II and the top two Division II teams are promoted to Division I.

The idea is just in the conceptualization stage. One thing about Eala, he’s always thinking ahead. He’s constantly conjuring ideas of how to make the league more exciting. That’s the trademark of a commissioner who’s no doubt on the ball.

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Shell coach John Moran said he’s put on over 30 pounds since settling here last year. "I can’t stay away from crispy pata, kaldereta and all that good food," said the Brooklyn native with the trademark toothpick sticking out of his mouth.

Turbochargers import Marek Ondera hurt his right ankle in the third period of last Thursday’s game in General Santos City and didn’t play the entire fourth quarter.

An MRI done at the De los Santos Clinic yesterday revealed no fracture but confirmed a torn ligament. Ondera’s condition is still being assessed by doctors. It’s not certain if he will suit up against Red Bull on Wednesday.

"The worst thing for an import is to get hurt and have to go back home early because of an injury" said Ondera. "My girlfriend (Katrinne) watched the game on TV in Manila and got really worried when she saw me fall."

Ondera, who turns 27 on March 21, said he’s used to physical play. As an import in Germany and Denmark, he said he had his share of getting banged up by big, burly centers.

Ondera said he was told about the PBA by his University of California at Irvine teammate Tony de la Cruz. It was de la Cruz who arranged a meeting for him with Moran in San Francisco during the Christmas holidays.

"I love it in the Philippines," said Ondera. "I never imagined playing here would be so great."

Shell rookie free agent Kalani Ferreria’s father Leopoldo–a native of San Quintin, Pangasinan–took the trip to General Santos City to watch his son play. Leopoldo, 59, is a police investigator in California. He’s here on a short visit.

Ferreria, 25, was FedEx’ fourth round pick in last year’s draft but wasn’t signed up. His mother Barbara Ann is from Milwaukee. Ferreria played for the San Juan Knights and Pangasinan Waves in the defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association.

Only three rookie free agents made it to PBA rosters this season. Aside from Ferreria, the others are Purefoods’ Peter June Simon (Sta. Lucia Realty’s fifth round pick in 2001) and Talk ‘N’ Text’s Allan Salangsang (Tanduay’s third round pick in 2001).

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The General Santos City game was organized by project head Clement Asencio, DFC Tuna Venture Corp. owner Jerry Damalerio and Notre Dame of Dadiangas College batch ’79 president Orman Manansala.

Rep. Darlene Antonino Custodio (First District, South Cotabato) and General Santos City Mayor Pedro (Jun) Acharon gave their all-out support in making sure the project was a smash hit. Sure enough, it was. The game set a new PBA provincial record for gate receipts at P1.4 Million with over 8,000 fans jamming the air-conditioned Lagao Gymnasium, which, incidentally, features a Robbins maple hardcourt and a pair of Porter backboards.

A successful former PBA player in the city is Joel Santos, now a tuna canner and exporter. Santos, 40, played two years (1988 and 1989) in the league, suiting up for Presto and Alaska. Among the 6-3 forward’s Presto teammates were Allan Caidic, Philip Cezar, Pido Jarencio and Bai Cristobal. His Alaska teammates included Frankie Lim, Abet Guidaben, Eric Altamirano and Bong Alvarez.

Santos, who traces his roots to Cotabato City and Davao City, said provincial life suits him just fine. "Tahimik sa probinsya," said the entrepreneur whose booming business often brings him to the US during the year.

Santos took care of the visiting PBA group’s orders of tuna–packing frozen panga and belly by the kilo in boxes.

Damalerio surprised the city’s guests by sending some 10 30-kilo frozen tunafish–from head to tail–to be brought back to Manila. Damalerio’s close family friend is PBA sportscaster Ed Picson.

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It’s confirmed. Lebanon and Argentina are the two foreign entries to play in the Fiesta Cup. They will join the fray in the eight-team quarterfinals and are expected to fly in early June. Lineups of both teams are being assembled and initial talks indicate several national players with World Championship experience will be showing up.