HAVE we seen the last of NorthPort in the PBA?
The Batang Pier are reportedly talking to a potential buyer but pro league Commissioner Willie Marcial said no one from the team has informed him of negotiations—contrary to reports (not in Malaya-Business Insight)—at least for now.
“Sino ang nagsabi na may letter of intent na? Kausapin ninyo iyong may-ari (ng team) or kung sino man ang representative nila kung nagbigay. Wala pang sinasabi sa akin ang NorthPort. Kung totoo man, NorthPort muna ang magsasabi sa akin,” Marcial told Malaya-Business Insight last night. “Hindi ko pa nakakausap ang NorthPort. Ganito din ang sinasabi ko sa lahat.
“Wala pang sinasabi sa akin ang NorthPort. Nakakausap ko naman sila,” he added.
Marcial, however, did not entirely dismiss the possibility of the Mikee Romero-owned ballclub leaving Asia’s pioneering pro league after 13 years when it bought the Powerade Tigers franchise.
The PBA’s golden year gets going on Oct. 5, with the Board of Governors set to convene during a meeting in the first week of September, where the matter is expected to be tackled.
“Malay mo. Puwede naman. Kung magbabayad sila (new squad) ng bond ng Oct. 4, ‘di ba? Nasa kanila iyon. Kaso ngayon wala pa talaga,” the hardworking PBA chief said on whether time will be a problem if and when a new team buys NorthPort or joins the league instead.
“May board meeting kami sa first week of September. Itatanong ko sa NorthPort. Haka-haka lang iyan.”
Batang Pier coach Bonnie Tan cannot be reached for comment last night.
NorthPort reached the semifinals of the mid-season Commissioner’s Cup last season but lost to Ginebra.
But in bizarre moves that followed, the Batang Pier shipped vastly-improved William Navarro to Magnolia for veteran forward Calvin Abueva, Jerrick Balanza, and a second-round pick in the 51st season Draft last May.
NorthPort also let go of star forward Arvin Tolentino, who signed with the Korean Basketball League in the same month.
The Batang Pier wound up with a 2-9 mark for 11th and have only made it to the semifinals three times in franchise history.
Whether the sale pushes through or not will be one of the keenly-awaited developments before the pro league celebrates its 50th year and the question that gnaws at true-blue fans: Will there be a 12-team field next season?
