TV ‘collectibles’ eyed to finance PBA Dome

Philippine Star
Wednesday, September 26, 2007

MACAU – Top PBA officials are determined to go after past television partners which owed the league debts amounting to over half a billion pesos and use it as seed money for the construction of their dream coliseum.

“Now that we have this plan for the PBA Dome, that money would surely be put to good use,” said league chairman Tony Chua.

Chua said the matter might later be discussed formally in the three-day conference set at the palatial Venetian Hotel.

“Those debts almost brought us to our knees,” said Chua.

The Photokina Marketing top executive admitted, however, it would be tough to go for the money, particularly from government-owned station NBN-4.

“How can you sue the government?” Chua asked.

But the board appeared determined to pursue cases against their former TV partners.

Former chairman Ricky Vargas said debts incurred by their delinquent coverors – more or less P600 million — could probably cover half of the cost of the project.

The PBA officials also approved the proposed amendments on game rules and agreed to form a study group that will look into the pros and cons of the league turning into a corporation.

Aside from Chua and Vargas, other board members here are Joaqui Trillo of Alaska, Ely Capacio of San Miguel Beer, Robert Non of Ginebra, Rene Pardo of Purefoods, Lito Alvarez of Air21 and Mamerto Mondragon of Welcoat.

“The changes in our game rules are geared towards making the game more exciting. We’re letting the players play and decide the game by its merits,” said PBA officer-in-charge Sonny Barrios.

One key amendment is the “controlled hand-check” now being allowed for as long as the defender doesn’t impede the movement of the offensive player. – Nelson Beltran