3-conference format, Meralco get PBA nod

Two new teams, an old, but exciting format and a promising 36th season. The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) welcomed the entry of the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) while also took notice of a new team that will replace Purefoods – Petron.

PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios confirmed these developments to GMANews.TV in a telephone interview Tuesday right after the PBA board meeting. "Everything turned out smoothly," said Barrios. "None among the members of the board objected on the entry of Meralco." Meralco, a company which has a rich basketball tradition, was a household name in the local cage scene. Known as the Reddies, they won the 1971 Manila Industrial Commercial Athletic Association (MICAA) championship over the Crispa Redmanizers with Robert Jaworski, Francis Arnaiz, brothers Alberto and Tino Reynoso, Orly Bauzon, Alfonso Marquez, Jimmy Mariano and Larry Mumar as their resident stars. Handling the team was Lauro "The Fox" Mumar. Meralco will inherit Sta. Lucia's old franchise. The team will be coached by three-time PBA champion mentor Ryan Gregorio, who bade goodbye to his old squad, Purefoods, right after its last game this season. The newest PBA team will be represented in the PBA board by Ramon Segismundo, senior vice president and head of the human resources and corporate services. Betty C. Sy-Yap, senior vice president and finance officer, will be the alternate governor. Segismundo also confirmed Gregorio has accepted their proposal to coach the team. Terms of the contract weren't revealed, but a source from the company who requested anonymity said Gregorio will coach the team at least for the next five years. But the clause in the contract that attracted Gregorio the most, according to the source, is the big opportunity beyond coaching. He is reportedly set to head the team's basketball operations while also serving as assistant vice president for sports advocacy programs. Meralco's entry also means Talk 'N Text will now have a sister team in the PBA.
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV Barrios made this clarification, saying Meralco's case is similar to that of San Miguel Beer, Ginebra and the old Purefoods franchise, which will now be called as Petron. San Miguel, Ginebra and Petron are sister teams and cannot directly trade players. Barrios said that Meralco and Talk 'N Text cannot trade directly since based on the documents submitted the new team is considered a second squad owned by sportsman/businessman Manny V. Pangilinan. Pangilinan has controlling shares both in Meralco and Talk N Text, which is under PLDT, making these two teams in the PBA as sister squads. Shorter, but more exciting three-conference format The idea of having a three-conference format is not to prolong a season. Instead, this old format, which has a new concept, will lessen the non-bearing games and will have more exciting matches in store. "We will begin with the All-Filipino Conference, then the other two will be import-flavored conferences," said Barrios. PBA media bureau chief Willie Marcial said they have proposed a height limit of 6-foot-4 in the second conference and suggested a handicapping system in the third conference where teams which didn't fare well in the second conference will be reinforced by taller imports "It's just a proposal. It will still be discussed in the next meetings," said Marcial. Purefoods out, Petron in With new owners taking over the leading hotdog and processed meat company, San Miguel Corporation, which owns Purefoods' PBA franchise, cannot revert to using its old brand that has endeared it to millions of fans. Starting the 36th season, SMC's third team will be known as Petron. Petron will have the nucleus of the last Purefoods champion squad that includes top MVP candidate James Yap, Kerby Raymundo, Rico Maierhofer, Marc Pingris, Roger Yap, PJ Simon, KG Canaleta, Don Allado, Raffi Reavis and Paul Artadi. The only missing piece in that champion squad, is of course, Gregorio. With Purefoods no longer part of the PBA family, Barrios instructed his staff to pull out the team's old PBA merchandise as well. - JVP, GMANews.TV