Three more PBA franchises?

So far, the PBA has received three letters of intent from business groups applying to join the pro league with new franchises – Ever Bilena Cosmetics using Blackwater as front brand, Columbian Autocar Corp. using Kia as front brand and the five-time PBA D-League champion N-Lex Warriors.

The league is now conducting due diligence on the three applicants, looking into their financial capability to sustain a team for at least five years. It appears the PBA will expand to 13 teams next season, creating more jobs, more opportunities and more fans. Dilution of talent may be a concern but with the PBA expected to conduct an expansion draft, the goal is to distribute not dissipate resources. The expansion draft may use a protect nine or 10 peg, allowing the three new franchises to choose from among about 40 players in the rosters of the 10 existing clubs. Rookies and free agents will further augment the lineups of the new teams on the block.

But while the PBA Board of Governors is preparing to roll out the red carpet for the new franchises, a highly-reputable source whispered that three more business groups are waiting in the wings to jump in. One group was ready to submit a letter of intent last week but the PBA reportedly said to hold off until a briefing is conducted on the terms of engagement. The interested party, involved in retail sales of a popular locally-produced consumer product, will be advised on the rules of membership, including franchise fees, terms of payment and revenue-sharing formulas for gate receipts, TV income and merchandise sales.

Another group is not a newcomer to the PBA and hopes to make a comeback. It owns a team in the PBA D-League so the connection to basketball remains strong. Once this group submits a letter of intent, the PBA Board will require a commitment of abiding by league rules among others. The group left the PBA over 10 years ago after a run-in with the Board and had to pay fines of over P10 million for going against the rules.

A third group is hedging on the timing of its entry. It is a large conglomerate with real estate interests. The likelihood is this group will join after the 2015 season so it’s in no hurry to join the bandwagon.

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Talk ‘N’ Text coach Norman Black never imagined he would be thrown out of a game. Since entering the PBA as an import with Tefilin in 1981 and moving on as a multi-titled coach, he had escaped ejection until a few seconds were left in the third quarter of the Tropa’s game against San Miguel Beer at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last Friday. Black said he’s had his fair share of fines and technicals but ejection was simply not in his history up to that fateful exit.

“I thought there were two bad calls back-to-back,” said Black. “First, Richard (Howell) had a clean steal off Doug (Kramer) and was called for a foul. Come on, he might have touched a few fingers but that was a clean steal. I got a technical for resentment although I never talked to the referees. Next, Larry (Fonacier) was bumped out of the court by Doug and they ruled a turnover. I jumped out of my seat and they gave me another technical. I’ve fouled out and I’ve gotten technicals but that was my first-ever ejection, like I had never walked off the court before during a game.”

The resilient Texters bucked Black’s ejection to win, 107-99. The battle between Howell and opposing San Miguel import Kevin Jones was a classic duel. Howell finished with 38 points, 20 rebounds, four assists, five steals and a blocked shot in 38 minutes while Jones compiled 35 points, 13 rebounds, two assists, a steal and two blocked shots in 35.

It wasn’t their first confrontation. Last January, Texters team manager Paolo Trillo said he saw Howell and Jones go mano-a-mano during the three-day NBA D-League Showcase in Reno, Nevada. Howell played for the Idaho Stampede and Jones, the Canton Charge. In their duel, Howell collected 15 points and 11 boards in 28:17 minutes as Idaho beat Canton, 93-88. Jones wound up with 18 points and 10 rebounds in 35:15.

“They’re evenly matched and extremely talented players,” said Trillo. “In the end, we decided to offer Richard a contract because we felt he suited our team more. I think Jones has a better perimeter game but we need more of an inside presence.”

Players from the NBA D-League are categorized according to classes A, B and C and released only after their teams are paid a fee. The amount of the fee depends on the class of the player. Howell, for instance, is a Class A player.

As for Jones, he gained a solid reputation for his positive attitude and work ethic at West Virginia University. In his freshman year, he ran a mile from his dorm to the gym to avoid being late when his ride didn’t show up, catching coach Bob Huggins’ attention. He was never known to complain on and off the court, had a ready smile for fans and was accommodating to media. Jones is in the record books as only the third player in Big East Conference history to lead the league in scoring and rebounding in a season after Troy Murphy and Luke Harangody of Notre Dame. K. J. played 32 games for the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2012-13 and is fresh from averaging 16.9 points in the NBA D-League. Jones’ single-game NBA highs included 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Black said he saw Jones in action with West Virginia under Huggins and knows him to be a top-flight player. It also helped that Howell was familiar with Jones’ moves when they faced off last Friday.