Both PBA chair Patrick Gregorio and commissioner Chito Salud envision the incoming season to be “simple and memorable.”
Memorable, sure. Simple?
A season with a world boxing icon crossing over to professional basketball, with the roster of teams increased to an even dozen, with an invasion of Asian players looming on the horizon, and with opening day to be held in a 55,000-capacity, new sports arena—this is all grandiose.
Oh, and there’s also the selection of the league’s 40 greatest players, where 15 more will be added to the 25 previously chosen during the silver anniversary of the country’s premier basketball league.
There are many new things to be expected in the PBA’s 2015 season and just listening to the chair, the commissioner and the other governors talk about these, the air instantly fills with electricity and excitement.
Everyone was upbeat during the preseason press conference of the PBA yesterday at Edsa Shangri-La. There were many new and old-new faces within the ranks of the governors like Meralco’s Al Panlilio, the Manny V. Pangilinan Sports Foundation president who replaced Mon Segismundo; and his alternate Ryan Gregorio, former Meralco head coach; NLEX’s Ramon Fernandez, Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. president and CEO, and alternate Rod Franco; Ginebra’s Alfrancis Chua, a former PBA coach; Kia’s Ginia Domingo, Columbia Auto Car Corp. president and CEO; and Blackwater’s alternate governors Silliman Sy and Wilbert Lao.
Meanwhile, the PBA’s executive committee for the incoming season is made up of Gregorio, chair; San Miguel Corp.’s Robert Non, vice chair; Globalport’s Erick Arejola, treasurer; commissioner Salud and lawyer Melvin Mendoza.
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Don’t be surprised if two-time PBA MVP Danny Ildefonso comes out to parade in a bright orange Meralco uniform on opening day of the league’s 2015 season at Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
Danny was released by mother team Meralco to expansion team Blackwater during the dispersal draft held last June, but the two parties failed to come to an agreement.
“We offered him a stipend of P200,000 a month which he refused,” said Dioceldo Sy, Blackwater owner.
Failing to come to terms, Sy said they tried to negotiate for a trade, but nothing happened.
“Finally, we decided to give him back to his mother team without asking for anything in return,” Sy said.
“If he has officially received his release from Blackwater, then Danny should join us when we return from Davao tomorrow,” Meralco coach Norman Black said yesterday.