PBA board tackles vital issues

The PBA’s board of governors convenes today to tackle several issues topped by the possible overhaul of the rest of the league’s calendar for the season to be able to accommodate the national five for the Fiba-Asia World Qualifying championship to be held in Manila in August.

Representatives of all 10 teams are expected to come in full force for the meeting slated at noon at the league’s offices in Libis, Quezon City, to resolve whether to adjust the PBA calendar for the most important cage event the country is hosting in 40 years.

The Philippines was awarded the right to host the Fiba-Asia joust from Aug. 1-11, a qualifying tournament that will send the top three placers to the World Basketball Championship next year in Madrid, Spain.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, which business tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan, also the owner of Talk ‘N Text and Meralco in the PBA, heads, is asking for the full backing of his PBA colleagues to be able to come up with the best possible team for the event.

There have been reports that the Office of the PBA Commissioner is ready to come up with its own proposal of having at least one member from each of the 10 teams to be included in the national team.

A setup like that, though, could create an imbalance in the Gilas-Pilipinas crew since  coach Chot Reyes had already said that the bulk of the squad would come from the powerhouse teams like TNT, Petron Blaze and San Mig Coffee and Rain or Shine.