If there was going to be an 11th team (or even a 12th) in the PBA next season, not too many people thought it would be Blackwater Sports or Columbia Automotive Corporation.
Basketball insiders, however, believed it would be NLEX, the Manny V. Pangilinan-owned team in the PBA D-League which recently swept the Aspirants Cup championship series over Big Chill.
It was the fifth title in six conferences for the Road Warriors, who lost to Dioceldo Sy’s Blackwater the tournament before.
Even with the introduction of a draft system this season to balance the field, NLEX was so dominant people felt the team was ready to move up to the next level of competition.
Perhaps, so did high-ranking executives of MVP-owned companies like Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation president/CEO Ramon Fernandez, Maynilad president/CEO Ricky Vargas, Manila North Tollways Corp president/CEO Rodrigo Franco and MVP himself.
I could sense something was cooking during the victory celebration at the Kamayan-Saisaki at EDSA immediately following the championship which MVP and his execs attended. I couldn’t make out what MVP was saying, but every announcement he made elicited loud, rapturous cheers from the players, coaching staff and executives surrounding him.
Did MVP announce what was whispered to me in confidence by a PBA VIP right outside the NLEX dugout after the game?
“I have a scoop for you,” he said, “NLEX is joining the PBA.”
I tried to confirm the whispered tip with Ricky Vargas that very same night but he offered to divulge another secret, one that concerned his amateur boxers. Vargas is also the country’s boxing association (Abap) president.
Vargas disclosed that as early as now, they have handpicked four potential medalists for the 2018 Olympics, who are currently undergoing “secret” training.
“Yung answer sa question mo about NLEX, eh abangan na lang ang susunod na kabanata (watch out for the next chapter),” Vargas said.
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The other day, I requested PBA media bureau Willie Marcial for an update on the franchise applications. He said Ever Bilena Inc. (Blackwater Sports) and Kia Motors have both submitted a letter of intent.
“The NLEX letter would be coming Wedneday,” he added.
“Gosh, that will bring the total number of teams to 13, isn’t that supposed to be an unlucky number?” I asked Marcial.
“Actually there’s a 14th applicant, but I’m not sure if the ballclub is really serious about owning a PBA franchise, that’s why I can’t reveal to you who this is. I’ll give you a clue though, the applicant used to own a team in the amateurs.”
If my guess is correct, the club also owned a franchise in the PBA before.
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HOOPVINE: Even before they plan for his next fight, ALA president/CEO Michael Aldeguer said WBO Intercontinental junior featherweight champion Genesis Servania, who successfully defended his title via a 12th round TKO against Venezuelan Alexander “El Explosivo” Muñoz last March 1, will have to rest because of an old cut incurred previously in Macau that reopened last Saturday. “We will have to consult a specialist to find out if the cut will need plastic surgery to ensure it doesn’t open again,” Aldeguer said… Will MVP accept if, as reported, he is asked by Jejomar Binay to be his running mate in the 2016 presidential elections?