Barako Bull deadline set tomorrow

MANILA—Whether Barako Bull is in or out for good in the Philippine Basketball Association Governors Cup will be known tomorrow.

On leave since the end of the Philippine Cup, the Barako Bull franchise has been given a deadline by the PBA to announce its plans so the league can formalize the format and schedule of the season-ending tournament set to start next week.

Meanwhile, Alaska and Powerade have come to terms with returning imports Jason Forte and John Williamson, respectively.

Forte will be seeing action for the second time in the PBA after a two-game stint with Air21 two years ago when he walked in to apply for the job.

He didn’t last long in the tournament because he was undersized with teams allowed to sign 6-foot-6 imports then. Forte is listed as 6-4.

“We love his energy and intensity,” Alaska coach Tim Cone said. “And the fact that he knows the Philippine brand of basketball made him our choice.”

Barako Bull is in a financial bind  with rumor of its impending foldup starting two years ago after salaries of players and utility personnel were delayed.

The participation of Barako Bull in the Governors Cup is critical for some teams who own rights to several Barako Bull’s picks in the coming draft because of previous trades.

Should Barako Bull opt not to play, the franchise won’t earn points for the Governors Cup and teams who own those draft rights will be left picking late in the proceedings.

Meanwhile, the scheduled June 2 and 3 games in Dubai which will kick off the Governors Cup might not push through because of lack of sponsors to shoulder the expenses.

Sources said the games pitting Talk ‘N Text versus Derby Ace on June 2 and TNT against Ginebra the following day may be moved to another date if a sponsor comes along.