PBA cancels HK plan session

MANILA, Philippines—The PBA board of governors has canceled its three-day planning session scheduled to start Wednesday inHong Kong to express its sympathy and unity with the families and friends of the victims killed in the hostage-taking incident at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila last week.   PBA chair Rene Pardo had earlier told the Inquirer that the postponement, which came hours before the board members’ departure, would cost the league about $20,000 in cancelled hotel bookings and plane tickets.   The decision to cancel the trip also took into account the reactions in Hong Kong over the hostage killings.   “We don’t want to give the impression to our Hong Kong neighbors that we are insensitive to their grief,” Pardo said. “We also want our authorities to conclude their investigation to address the concerns and sentiments of the Hong Kong people.”   Given the circumstances, league commissioner Chito Salud said the PBA thought it “wise and prudent to hold its annual planning session in a local venue instead.”   Salud told the Inquirer a choice of venue would be made within the next couple of weeks.   “The board had this Hong Kong planning trip long scheduled in its calendar,” he said.   “When the hostage-taking incident occurred, the governors were understandably alarmed and closely followed the developments here and in Hong Kong. Sentiments of grief and frustration are still running high on all sides.   Pardo said the new local venue would be one where the board members could buckle down to work without any distractions.   Among the issues to be taken up at the postponed planning session are the three-conference season format, the planned Development League, and the request of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas for some PBA players to join the national team to theAsian Games in Guangzhou, China, in November.