Cha-cha could break PBA impasse – Chua

PBA board chairman Tony Chua said the league’s executive board meets Tuesday to draft proposals on how to break another impasse in their search for a new commissioner.

Chua didn’t discount the possibility of amending the constitution to finally break the deadlock on their choice for the job between Chito Salud and Lambert Ramos.

The board will have its fourth round of voting in a meeting Thursday at the PBA office in Libis, Quezon City. Chua said he’ll propose secret voting, hoping to finally end their search for the man to take over from officer-in-charge Sonny Barrios.

Under the league’s existing rules, a candidate has to muster two-thirds vote of the board to get the appointment. The magic number is six from nine voting members.

“One or two ball clubs have to sacrifice in order to get the needed number. If everyone sticks to their vote, we can’t make the appointment unless we amend our rules,” Chua told The STAR.

“This is why we’re convening the executive board Tuesday. We’ll study and draft proposals how to break the deadlock if the votes remain the same in the next voting,” Chua added.

Drafting the proposals are Chua, vice chairman Joaqui Trillo and treasurer Robert Non.

The board has gone through three ballotings but still failed to resolve the matter with Salud reportedly getting the votes of Magnolia, Barangay Ginebra, Welcoat, Red Bull and Coca-Cola and Ramos getting the nods of Alaska Milk, Air21, Sta. Lucia and Talk n Text.

Salud’s group needs to win one vote from the other group to get the mandate. Ramos’ group, on the other hand, needs to attract two from the other side.

Backdoor maneuverings from both sides are expected to happen up to the very day of the next voting.

Meanwhile, Purefoods Tender Juicy and Sta. Lucia Realty seek to keep their one-two positions as they take on separate opponents in the Smart PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum today.

The Giants take on the Coca-Cola Tigers at 4:30 p.m. with a chance to finally clinch an outright seat in the semifinals.

The Realtors play the Magnolia Beverage Masters at 6:50 p.m. looking to stay within striking distance of the Giants.

Magnolia, at 9-7, still has a chance to make outright semis entry. Coca-Cola, at 6-9, just hopes to salvage automatic entry into the quarters.