No roadblocks to NorthPort sale as board convenes in Vegas
LAS VEGAS—The NorthPort sale to Pureblends is expected to not encounter any resistance from the PBA’s board of governors, which arrived Monday night here at Sin City to tackle the path the league will take in its landmark 50th Season that starts next month.
The usual calendar of conferences, the election of its board, the budget, and that NorthPort deal with Pureblends are the biggest things on the agenda as its members took the rest of Monday night off before convening at 9 a.m. on Tuesday for their marathon session.
“We expect it to be passed by the board,” commissioner Willie Marcial said of the franchise sale, which was reportedly consummated last week at a price between P85-P90 million.
There will be the usual three conferences for the season, which will start on Oct. 4 with a fans day as the league will have its players meet and greet all players to touch off festivities of its Golden Season.
Ninth MVP?
The Leo Awards, where June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel Beer is expected to be awarded a ninth MVP, will be held the following day at 12 noon before the season opens at 4:30 p.m. at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Ricky Vargas, the TNT Tropang 5G representative to the board, is expected to be elected to a ninth straight term as chair, with San Miguel Corp. sports director Alfrancis Chua to retain his post as vice chairperson.
Vargas and Barangay Ginebra’s Chua, Meralco’s Atty. Billy Pamintuan, Ronald Dulatre of NLEX, Silliman Sy of Blackwater, Erick Arejola of NorthPort, Jason Webb of Magnolia, Atty. Francis Zorilla of Phoenix, Robert Non of San Miguel Beer, Archen Cayabyab of Converge and Atty. Mert Mondragon of Rain or Shine are present for the session.
Only Bobby Rosales, whose Terrafirma franchise has gone through two botched buyers in the past couple of months, did not make the trip.
