Derby Ace acquiring Devance?

MANILA, Philippines—Joe Devance, the versatile big man shipped by Alaska to Air21 just two days ago, will find his way to Derby Ace should a 1-for-2 deal that involves three-time Slam Dunk King KG Canaleta be approved by PBA Commissioner Chito Salud.

Both Air21 and Derby Ace managements have signed the deal, and forwarded it to the Commissioner’s Office for approval on Thursday.

Devance was a front-runner in the statistical points race in both the Philippine and Commissioner’s Cups before he was offered by the Aces to the Express in exchange for underachieving center Jay-R Reyes, and two Draft rights.

“We want Devance and our offer is actually for them (Express) to choose who they want,” board chair and Derby Ace team manager Rene Pardo said.

James Yap and Kerby Raymundo, though, were excluded from Air21’s choices.

Meanwhile, the new television contract offer that the PBA got from TV5 is expected to pass the level of the league’s ex-com on Friday after the expanding network easily passed the parameters set by the board of governors.

A total of more than P930 million in cash and in other forms, will be paid to the league in the next five years, easily the biggest deal that the PBA has secured since the days of Vintage Enterprises, which reportedly coughed up more than a billion for one contract for one stretch in the last decade.

Also, the Barako Bull franchise didn’t respond to a Monday deadline set by the PBA whether to play, or stay on leave, making the June 11 match between Derby Ace and Rain or Shine in Tacloban the official opening of the season-ending Governors Cup.