PBA board charts league’s direction in Hong Kong

HONG KONG—The Philippine Basketball Association’s board of governors arrived in this bustling shopping haven Monday morning to chart the league’s direction this season under the chairmanship of Rain Or Shine’s Mamerto Mondragon.

An increase in the team salary cap, the operating budget of the Office of the Commissioner, the 37th Season format and a presentation by new television franchise owner TV5 will be on the table during a meeting scheduled last night at the Holiday Inn Golden Mile hotel.

The league and TV5 were supposed to ink a five-year package worth close to P1 billion, but Mondragon, who took over from B-Meg’s Rene Pardo, said that the signing would probably “happen in Manila.”

“There are still some minor things left to be threshed out, and they (TV5) will make a presentation to the board,” Mondragon said.

The format for the coming season is expected to be a ticklish issue, though.

It had been agreed in a previous board meeting that the PBA would continue its three-conference format, but a proposal has been tabled in which the second conference—instead of the season-ending tournament—will feature imports with unlimited height.

Mondragon also said it is highly likely that the board will approve a P400,000 increase in the team salary cap starting this season, giving teams more room to chase big-name players.