PBA reconsiders Dubai sorties after Texters’ stranding

MANILA, Philippines — The Dubai sorties that the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) promised to overseas Filipino workers for the next five years recently are now being reconsidered in the aftermath of a travel foul-up that stranded Talk ‘N Text at the Dubai International airport Saturday night.

League chairman Rene Pardo of B-Meg said that an investigation should be made “to get to the bottom” of the issue that affected only the Tropang Texters, who played against the B-Meg Llamados and Barangay (village) Ginebra Gin Kings Thursday and Friday, respectively.

Members of the Talk ‘N Text squad, including four from its coaching staff, returned to Manila on different flights after a nine-hour delay caused by a mix-up that had Gulf Air cancelling their booking.

No one could say why the travel glitch affected only the Tropang Texters.

Commissioner Chito Salud promised last Thursday to bring at least one official game a year to Dubai for the next five seasons during the launch of the two-game schedule organized by the Dubai-based Filipino Basketball Center headed by Ramon Pizarras Thursday.

“Definitely, we should have an investigation to get to the bottom of the whole mess,” Pardo told reporters Sunday night. “Yes, as of now, that project (return trips to Dubai) is on hold as far as I am concerned.”

Talk ’N Text salvaged a 1-1 record after a loss to B-Meg and a win over Barangay Ginebra in the two games held before a packed crowd at the Al Shabab stadium.

“Unbelievable how badly the PBA handled this trip, especially since I warned them already about this promoter,” Talk ‘N Text coach Chot Reyes had said in his twitter page.

“I warned the PBA about him (Pizarras), pero tinuloy pa din. Kami pa nadamay (they went on with the trip and we were affected).”

Reyes was able to board the flight along with the rest of the PBA entourage because his trip was arranged through a different travel agent. His son, Josh, who is a member of the coaching staff, was among those who got stranded.

The same promoter, according to Talk ‘N Text team manager Aboy Castro, also reneged on some of his commitments with the hotel and players from the three teams that went there had to settle some bills on their own.

Salud and the rest of his staff were spared from the troubles that the Texters went through and asked that the issue be put aside, though an investigation will be done.

“Let this not deter the huge success of the two games we played,” Salud said in an official statement.

“We should commend the three teams for the sacrifice of flying over to Dubai which is not a near place just for the purpose of entertaining our Filipino brethren there,” he added.