Blackwater Sports eyes PBA entry next season

Blackwater Sports champion of PBA D-League 2013 Foundation Cup. Photo by Nuki Sabio/ PBA

MANILA, Philippines — Blackwater Sports, a perennial title contender in the PBA D-League owned by cosmetics magnate Dioceldo Sy, has been asked to submit a letter of intent to support its bid to become the 11th ballclub in the Philippine Basketball Association next season.

But the PBA Commissioner’s Office refused to comment on Blackwater’s application to join the league as an expansion team until the league’s board of governors convenes on March 6.

“I will not comment on that until Blackwater submits in black and white its intention to join the PBA,” said PBA commissioner Chito Salud.

Sy, who owns Ever Bilena, the country’s biggest cosmetics firm, has a long track record of fielding teams in commercial leagues for the last 15 years.

The businessman even tapped Asi Taulava to play for Blu Detergent in the defunct Philippine Basketball League in the late 90s.

“If they meet all the requirements, we’ll welcome them,” said former PBA chair and Rain or Shine governor Mamerto Mondragon.

Coached by Leo Isaac, Blackwater Sports won the 2013 PBA D-League Foundation Cup but lost to Big Chill in the semifinals of the recent Aspirants Cup.

“They’ll have to go through the board. But as far as [co-team owner] Terry [Que] and I are concerned, we’re OK with that because he’s [Sy] our friend,” said Rain or Shine team owner Raymund Yu.

“We know he’s [Sy] also very passionate about basketball like us.”