Just hours after Alaska Milk Corporation decided to pull out its team in the Philippine Basketball Association, three companies have inquired about the process of purchasing the franchise.
League commissioner Willie Marcial bared the development but did not disclose who the companies were.
Multiple sources closely monitoring the situation have told Tiebreaker Times that Family’s Brand Sardines is one of those that have inquired.
Moreover, one of the sources added that the Anita Kaw-owned company is the frontrunner.
Universal Canning Incorporated (UCI) already has one foot in the PBA as one of its products in Master Sardines is one of the guest teams in the league’s 3×3 tournament.
The price of the franchise was not disclosed by the sources, saying that the asking price is “in the low nine-digits.”
Financial capability though won’t be a problem for Family’s Brand Sardines.
During the 2019-21 Chooks-to-Go Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Lakan Season, Zamboanga-Family’s Brand Sardines had one of the highest payrolls in the league. The team had the likes of Alvin Pasaol, Santi Santillan, Aaron Black, and Anton Asistio with Eric Altamirano as team consultant.
At the same time, UCI was also maintaining the Bacolod-Master Sardines team that was led by Ben Adamos, Simon Camacho, and Yankie Haruna and had Vic Ycasiano as head coach.
The final say on a possible sale though would still remain with Alaska.
If no deal has been reached by April, the remaining live Aces contracts will be surrendered to the league with the players going to a dispersal draft.
