Salud mulls more games, possibly playoff, in Dubai

DUBAI – PBA commissioner Chito Salud said it’s not a remote possibility the league will bring even bigger games to Dubai in the future, possibly a quarterfinals series or a finals game following the receptiveness of Filipino workers and expats here.

Salud was delighted by the warm welcome that he gamely revealed his future plan for the Dubai OFWs during the press conference at Asiana Hotel a few hours after their arrival from Manila Wednesday.

“Please note that we’re already holding official PBA games here, not exhibition matches. To show more love and affection to our kababayans here, at the right time, we may bring playoff matches,” said Salud.

Dubai-based Filipino journalists said OFWs here are even more supportive of the PBA now, following its bad experience with the promoter of its Dubai visit last year.

Salud stressed, though, that the PBA is moving forward even as promoter Ramon Pizarras is now in the central jail here, serving a sentence for a separate case.

“We even tried to arrange a jail visit. But apparently, they have a short visiting time here. We can’t be accommodated,” said Salud. “We want to see him. He’s still a Filipino after all.”

The PBA played two games before a full-house crowd at the Al-Shabab Sports Club last year yet Pizarras didn’t fulfill all his obligations, owing the pro league P1.5 million.

Nonetheless, Salud maintained the PBA will not turn its back on OFWs here.

“At the right time and talking to the right people, our long-term goal here is to hold playoff games. I think it’s possible to hold one best-of-three quarterfinals series here while another series is being played back in Manila. Or we can play one final game here,” said Salud.

The PBA is now working with the group of San Fernando, Pampanga native Edwin Daeng for the two-game series featuring Rain or Shine, Barangay Ginebra and Barako Bull.

The Elasto Painters and the Energy were to square off at 8 p.m. Thursday (12 midnight in Manila) to kick off the series.

Next up is the Rain or Shine-Barangay Ginebra tiff at 7 p.m. Friday.

For the three teams, a visit to Burj Khalifa or any Dubai desert camp can wait some other time as they’re focused on their face-offs they consider virtual knockout games.

Going to Thursday’s game, both Rain or Shine and Barako Bull are down in the leader board coming off a poor start in the short mid-season tourney.

“It’s already desperation period for us,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao. “The elims is so short and four teams will be eliminated. You need at least five wins to make the playoffs.”

“This Dubai trip is important for us. We’re down to six steps to the playoffs. One misstep and we’re in trouble,” said Barako Bull coach Junel Baculi.