Shell ‘hands-off’ to PBA teams

The PBA ball clubs have come up with a virtual gentleman’s agreement that no team would touch any Shell player until the giant gasoline company has come up with a decision on whether to fold-up or continue its participation in the league.

The ball clubs agreed not to enter into trade deals with Shell to keep the Turbochargers lineup intact pending the decision of the Shell management on the fate of its franchise.

The league governors, during its board meeting last Thursday, had the Tanduay case in mind in discussing a "trade embargo" with Shell. No Shell official was present during meeting.

It would be remembered that Tanduay released its key players to its preferred ball clubs before eventually selling its franchise to FedEx at the end of the 2001 campaign. Eric Menk went to Barangay Ginebra and Rudy Hatfield and Jeffrey Cariaso to Coca-Cola.

The board also wanted Shell to come out with a decision soon so the league can make the necessary preparations and policies.

Shell board governor and team manager Bobby Kanapi earlier said the status of the team is still under evaluation by their London-based mother company. He said the decision may come out before the end of the month.

Except for Rich Alvarez, Tony dela Cruz and Ervin Sotto, all players and even head coach Leo Austria and his staff have become free agents at the end of the 2004-05 campaign.

"I’m keeping my fingers crossed the management keeps the franchise. I don’t want to start all over again with another team," said Alvarez, the Rookie of the Year winner in the recent PBA Annual Awards.

If ever the team folds up and the lineup puts in a dispersal draft, Alvarez said he would be happy to land at Red Bull and be reunited with former Ateneo teammate and bosom buddy Enrico Villanueva.

Among the options open for Shell is to sell or loan the franchise.

Shell has been in the PBA since taking over the Crispa franchise in 1985. It has four titles under its credit won under coaches Arlene Rodriguez, Rino Salazar and Perry Ronquillo (two).