PBA mulls 12-team roster; SM Group eyeing franchise?

MANILA, Philippines - As they say, the more, the merrier. The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is looking at this line of thinking as it mulls on expanding its current 10-team field to 12 by the 2010-11 season. Burger King team manager Lito Alvarez broached the idea in what could be one of the several plans he is looking forward to lay on the table once he assumes the chairmanship of the league next season. So far those being pursued as probable member teams are the SM Group of Companies of billionaire Henry Sy, Phoenix Fuel, and Hapee Toothpaste. Among the three, the SM Group appears to be the most feasible. It is currently in the process of building a mega-coliseum at the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City. There are likewise talks that the Gokongwei franchise, one of the charter members of the league, is intent on making a comeback. It last saw action in the PBA during the 1991-92 season as Presto Tivoli before it sold its franchise to Sta. Lucia Realty the following year. “Twelve (teams) is the magic number," a PBA official who requested not to be named, declared. The source said that it is also the maximum number of teams the league could accommodate at the moment. “This plan, if realized, will surely be a sign how the PBA has grown," said a PBA governor. “This is also a sign that the league will survive despite the hard times." The cost of acquiring a league franchise ranges from P60 to P70 million. No matter how costly the amount is, however, firms are most likely to make a return on investment soon enough because of the exposure they get both in broadcast and in print. Already, the PBA is enjoying its most number of teams. There was a time, however, that the league only had six ball clubs when the San Miguel group decided to take a leave of absence. - GMANews.TV