Three interested buyers are now in talks with the Philippine Basketball Association now that Starhorse Shipping Lines, Inc. is out of the picture.
Two of them have not only sent Letters of Intent but have also paid the league’s office in Libis, Quezon City, a visit to talk to no less than Commissioner Willie Marcial, stating how serious they are in their attempt to join.
The league chieftain politely declined to divulge their identities, although he admitted that one of them has been knocking on their door for some time now.
“‘Yung isa roon, matagal nang nagpaparamdam sa atin,” he told Tiebreaker Times on Thursday night. “Dalawa na rin sa tatlo ang dumalaw sa atin.”
The league finds itself in a familiar situation after the sale of the Terrafirma franchise to Starhorse fell through, as the marine transportation company could not comply with requirements set by the PBA.
(C) Starhorse Basilan
Some requirements were also unmet in the separate negotiations between Starhorse and Terrafirma, whose group is led by team governor Bobby Rosales.
“Hindi nakapag-comply si Starhorse doon sa ibang mga requirements natin,” lamented Marcial. “Lalo roon sa financial side nung deal.”
But familiar, we say? That’s because the PBA also found itself talking to three entities in 2022 when the Alaska Milk Corporation pulled out of the league.
Marcial, back then, also kept their identities hidden, although the franchise was eventually bought by Converge ICT Solutions, Inc. of Dennis Anthony Uy.
The FiberXers then became the latest to join the PBA after NLEX, Blackwater, and Kia — which eventually became Terrafirma — in 2014.
