INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Basketball Association Tuesday tied the knot with a new television partner after the league’s board of governors agreed to ink a lucrative deal with Solar Sports.

The cable giant won the league over with a P498 million-offer spread over three years.

“It’s a done deal,” said PBA Commissioner Sonny Barrios.

Solar’s package will plunk P160 million into the league coffers in the first year (2008-2009), P168 million in the second year and P170 million in the final year of the contract.

Solar entered crunchtime in the television rights race virtually unopposed, needing to deal only with newcomer Makisig Channel after ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. backed out of the bidding.

Barrios said the final details of the contract would be ironed out by the PBA and Solar management as well as the lawyers of both parties before presenting them to the board.

“Basically, the PBA got what it wanted,” said Barrios.

“Situations (like) possible change of ownership, possible change of management while they’re contracted with each other will be ironed out. All of those will come into play in the fine print. Rest assured that both parties are dealing in good faith,” he added.

Meanwhile, Red Bull aims for a repeat of its first-round victory over Air21 even as Barangay Ginebra tries to sustain its climb out of the cellar in the Smart-PBA Fiesta Conference.

The Barako possess a psychological advantage over the Express after handily defeating the latter, 102-92, the first time they met this conference.

But things have changed since then for the Express, who are now primed to do battle with the heavyweights.

Though reeling from a 97-92 setback against the Gin Kings in Zamboanga City last Saturday, the Express have shown the ability to bounce back after every bad performance.

The Gin Kings, silently getting back on their feet with a pair of victories over the Welcoat Dragons and the Express, will try to make three in a row against the inconsistent Magnolia Beverage Masters in the other game.

In contrast, the Barako are focused on averting another loss—their third straight if it happens—that could pull them down to the middle of the pack.

“Our immediate goal is to get our energy back after the loss against Ginebra,” said Air21 coach Bo Perasol.

A victory by the Express will tie the Bert Lina-owned franchise with the second-running Barako and the Talk ‘N Text Phone Pals, leaving idle Coca-Cola Tigers alone at the top with a 7-4 record.

The Gin Kings (3-7) have overtaken the Dragons (3-8) deep in the standings after acquiring the 7-foot-1 Chris Alexander.

With Alexander around, the Gin Kings won three of their last five games, including Mark Caguioa’s explosive 39-point game against the Express that finally pulled them out of the cellar.

“We have to build on the things we are doing well and believe on having a defensive mind-set,” said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico.

Caguioa missed what could have been his fifth career 40-plus output and fell short of equalizing Nelbert Omolon’s 40 points for Sta. Lucia Realty last conference. It was the highest output by a local this season.