A MEETING of minds is set to take place in a bid to resolve issues concerning the Philippine Basketball Association.
The issues, which have the pro league’s future direction in mind, will be tackled during the upcoming Annual Planning set on Nov. 14.
“With the best interest of the league in mind, we have come to an agreement to reach out to the other members of the Board to resolve this impasse as a collegial body, not as individuals, to maintain the integrity of the PBA (Philippine Basketball Association) and protect the interest of fans nationwide,” said a group of PBA team owners, led by San Miguel Beer governor Robert Non.
The group which did not approve of moves to fire Commissioner Chito Narvasa, is appealing to the other members of the board to refrain from issuing any statements, making further comments, assumptions and judgments on issues surrounding the league.
“Accordingly, the PBA will proceed with the normal course of its business operations within the parameters of its bylaws and Constitution,” the statement said.
The statement added that all five teams composed of San Miguel Beer, Barangay Ginebra, Star Hotshots, Globalport and Kia Picanto will also continue to make available its players to the Philippine team preparing for the FIBA-Asia World Cup qualifier.
“We believe this should not be adversely affected by the board members’ differences in opinion,” the statement said.
They also feel that politics has no place within the boardroom of the PBA.
“We will do all we can not to allow this body to succumb to politicking and abandon basic human decency. We are still, after all, composed of people who uphold values and principles that made this league great through the years,” they added. “We reiterate that we are doing this to protect the league we all love, the game of basketball and the millions of fans who continue to support us.”
On Thursday, seven board members of the PBA banded together to “oust” Narvasa as commissioner of the league, although according to the rules, the league needs eight members to do so.
In an emergency board meeting at the league office in Libis, Quezon City, the seven board members from Meralco, Talk N’ Text, NLEX, Blackwater, Rain or Shine, Alaska and Phoenix voted to “remove” Narvasa as they didn’t give him a consensus vote of confidence.
The move may have stemmed from SMB’s move to acquire KIA’s no. 1 draft pick via trade, which the Beermen used to nab 6’8” standout Christian Standhardinger.