ABC TV5 gets PBA rights

MANILA, Philippines - ABC Sports 5 ended up the lone bidder for the exclusive rights to cover the PBA games for the next five years after ABS-CBN decided on Monday not to submit a bid.

PBA commissioner Chito Salud said he’ll make his recommendation to the league board as to the acceptability of the ABC Sports 5 offer after a meeting with top executives of the Manny V. Pangilinan-owned network Friday.

Technically, there’s no bidding war now with ABS-CBN opting out.

The exclusive PBA TV rights could well be back to ABC 5 after being held by Solar Sports from 2008-2011.

Salud said ABC Sports 5 met the requirements prescribed by the PBA board for interested bidders.

The league commissioner didn’t give the specific details but it would be safe to say that the network met the PBA board requirement of a five-year term with a base franchise fee of P.9 billion.

“ABC Sports 5 submitted its bid, the financial

terms of which met the requirement prescribed by the PBA board of governors in the terms of reference,” said Salud.

He added ABS-CBN also responded well within the scheduled deadline but only to inform the PBA that it has decided not to submit a bid.

ABC 5 executives will make a formal presentation of their financial and marketing proposals to the PBA executive and management committees Friday.

“After the presentation, the Office of the Commissioner will make its recommendation to the board of governors as to the acceptability of ABC Sports 5’s coverage offer,” Salud said.

ABC Sports 5’s plan is to telecast the PBA games on IBC 13 and NBC radio.

Solar Sports is bowing out of the PBA picture after the current PBA season.

It has paid the PBA nearly P.5 billion at the end of their three-year partnership. 

Meanwhile, Joe Devance is taking a circuitous route that, in the end, would bring him to B-MEG Derby Ace.

A reliable source said a deal is now being worked out for Devance’s transfer to the SMC group after the Devance-JayR Reyes trade gained the approval of PBA commissioner Chito Salud yesterday.

Salud gave its nod on the Devance-Reyes swap after Air21 added future draft picks (2011 and 2012 second round choices) in the deal.

Meanwhile, no official word on Barako Bull’s comeback plan for the third conference at presstime.

“The 5 p.m. deadline has lapsed and no word from Barako Bull. Commissioner Chito Salud said it means only nine teams will play in the third conference,” said PBA media bureau chief Willie Marcial.

The STAR source said Devance would not stay long at Air21 as the 6-foot-6 Fil-Am forward is being pursued by Derby Ace.

The same source said Barangay Ginebra would be involved in the transaction necessary to bring Devance over to the Llamados.

KG Canaleta and Billy Mamaril are the SMC players tipped to be part of the three-way trade.

If plans don’t miscarry, Derby Ace will be Devance’s third team after Rain or Shine and Alaska Milk.

The 2008 top draft pick made great strides with Alaska, breaking into the Mythical Second Team last year and contending for the Best Player of the Conference award in the recent Philippine and Commissioner’s Cups. 

Devance acknowledged the big break he got at Alaska and from coach Tim Cone.

“I will always have Alaska in my heart. I wouldn’t be the player or the man I am without coach Tim Cone,” said Devance in his twitter account. “I give all the credit to my success to coach Tim.”