Converge CEO Dennis Uy denies forming breakaway league

Converge ICT Solutions Inc. CEO and team owner Dennis Uy has denied allegations that he is creating a breakaway league, saying he is not "interested in participating in such histrionics."

The business tycoon also said that the FiberXers joined the PBA with only genuine intention of improving the league. Converge entered the league in March 2022, taking over the franchise from Alaska.

"Converge joined the PBA with the genuine intention of bringing vigor to the league for the greater entertainment of basketball fans across the country as our fiber internet services reached nationwide presence," he said in a statement.

"We believe that having a PBA basketball team would bring us closer to more Filipino homes that we want to serve. We are aiming to become a household name when it comes to world-class connectivity."

Converge and PBA's relationship has been hitting a snag lately after the league board rejected the appointment of Pampanga governor Dennis "Delta" Pineda as the FiberXers new team governor.

In the same statement, Uy said he regrets this move from the league despite the fact that Pineda offered his province as the game venue at the height of pandemic in  2020 and 2021.

"I deeply regret the decision of the PBA Board to decline our appointment of Pampanga governor Delta Pineda as our representative to the Board of Governors. We truly believe that his presence at the PBA Board will only bring more energy and dynamism to the PBA," he said.

"It's about time that we level the playing field at the PBA. Fairness is a core virtue of sportsmanship. We need to respect our viewers—the Filipino basketball fans. We should give them the sports entertainment that they deserve."

—Bea Micaller/MGP, GMA Integrated News