ABC-5 to remain PBA TV coveror?

By Nelson Beltran
Friday, August 31, 2007

ABC-5 is facing financial difficulty but its top officials are confident they can settle their obligations and continue to be the TV coveror of the Philippine Basketball Association in its coming 33rd season.

“We’re now up to date with payments. The only thing we have to settle are the payables next season (specifically, the bond), which we will have by Monday,” said ABC-5 program manager for sports Winston dela Cruz.

“We need to continue our tie-up with the PBA because we want another contract with them after the expiration of our existing pact at the end of the 2007-08 season,” Dela Cruz added.

The PBA, under board chair Tony Chua and acting-commissioner Sonny Barrios, has had exploratory talk with Solar Sports for a possible partnership since ABC-5 has yet to deliver a bond of around P60 million for the exclusive coverage of PBA games in the coming season.

Solar Sports is a block-timer at RPN-9. Its officials guaranteed they can take care of the PBA TV coverage should ABC-5 fail to settle its dues.

The PBA chairman said they have given ABC-5 another deadline to put up the bond or they would look for another TV coveror.

“The season is about to start. We need to have our fallback in case ABC-5 fails to deliver,” said Chua.

But Dela Cruz insisted they would keep the PBA coverage.

“The resources are there. We’re confident we can settle this. In fact, we’re done with our planning sessions for the coming season,” said Dela Cruz.

The 33rd PBA season opens Oct. 14 at the Araneta Coliseum. The planned “Blockbuster Sunday Opener,” however, has been shelved due to logistical and technical constraints.

Under the original plan, the PBA would have simultaneous opening ceremonies at the Araneta Coliseum in Luzon, Cebu in the Visayas and Gen. Santos City in Mindanao with all 10 teams to play a game.

“The concept is good but is hard to implement,” said Chua.

TV personalities Jose Manalo and Wally Bayola have been invited as special guest performers in the re-scheduled opening rites.