Lopez confirms Meralco PBA bid

MANILA, Philippines - Manila Electric Company (Meralco) confirmed yesterday it was mulling the idea of joining the Philippine Basketball Association as part of its advocacy program.

During the company’s annual stockholders meeting yesterday, Meralco chair and chief executive officer Manolo Lopez said the power utility firm, which used to run a team in the now-defunct MICAA, is in discussion with different groups for the possible acquisition of a PBA franchise. 

Sources said Sta. Lucia is one of those ballclubs that the group is negotiating with.

“There’s interest to once again form a basketball team. This is still in its raw stage but definitely there is interest,” Lopez said.

Lopez said it would be Meralco’s shareholders that would shoulder the costs of the company’s participation in the pro-league.

 “We will not pass on the costs to our consumers that’s for sure. This is more like an advocacy thing for us. The approach taken by management is that part of the income or proceeds would go to a designated charitable institution,” he said.

“Any fears that having a PBA team will mean higher cost of power must be debunked at this stage. It will be absorbed by the shareholders,” Lopez said.

Most teams book the costs as advertising expense since they find the PBA as one of the best marketing avenues for their products.

Meanwhile, San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra, the 2009 title protagonists, try to enhance their bid for top seeding in the coming playoffs as they clash anew in the PBA Fiesta Conference elimination round.

The Beermen and the Kings clash in the 7:30 p.m. main game of a crucial twinbill that is likely to draw a huge crowd at the Araneta Coliseum.

Barako Energy Coffee and Air21, two teams in danger of missing the playoffs, slug it out at 5 p.m.

Showgirl group Eurasia rocks the Big Dome with a number after the first game while Mickey Perz (Supah Dance) struts his stuffs at halftime of the San Miguel-Ginebra game.

The Beermen and the Kings expect a tough challenge from one another in the featured showdown.

“We know they are the No. 1 team that’s why we have to play every possession like it’s the last,” said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico.

“Ginebra is Ginebra. They have that never-say-die attitude which you have to overcome to beat them,” said San Miguel coach Siot Tanquingcen.

The Beermen and the Kings are both on a hot run and both in strong contention for a spot in the Magic Five.

San Miguel leads the pack with a 10-1 win-loss card while Ginebra is in joint third with B-MEG Derby Ace at 7-4.

SMB is unbeaten in its last nine games, enjoying a sizzling streak that included a 102-94 win over Ginebra.

Tanquingcen, however, insists they’re playing a different Ginebra team today with the Kings’ new import Mildon Ambres and new acquisition Willie Miller.

The Kings have gone 4-2 since Miller’s arrival, winning their last three games over the Barako Coffee Masters, the Sta. Lucia Realtors and the Alaska Aces.