By Waylon Galvez
Rep. Mikee Romero, the outgoing PBA chairman, gave assurance Thursday that the impasse between two warring factions in the board of governors will end next week and that the 43rd season will push through with its opening as scheduled on Dec. 17 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Romero, team owner of the GlobalPort Batang Pier, made the declaration during the PBA Press Corps Annual Awards at Gloria Maris Restaurant in Gateway Center in Cubao, Quezon City.
Last month, seven of the 12 teams withdrew their support of Narvasa following his approval of the trade that sent Kia’s rights to the No. 1 pick in the Rookie Draft to San Miguel Beer.
SMB used the pick to select 6-foot-8 Fil-German Christian Standhardinger, which drew a howl from the three Manny V. Pangilinan-owned teams – TNT KaTropa, Meralco and NLEX, along with Alaska, Rain or Shine, Phoenix Fuel and Blackwater.
The other five teams – San Miguel Beer, Magnolia (formerly Star), Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, Kia and GlobalPort, backed Narvasa, falling on a provision in the PBA charter which states that only a two-thirds vote, or eight in this instance, can sit or unseat a current commission.
That led to a contentious deadlock, with a planning session in Los Angeles last month going to waste and an owner’s meeting called last Tuesday failing to draw the top honchos of the SMC Group, Kia and Globalport to the table.
Romero’s statement comes as a whiff of fresh air to a stagnant atmosphere as players, coaches and others connected to the league hoping things would return to normal as soon as possible.
“Like a normal family, may konting problema. Like a normal human being, mga passionate manalo ‘tong mga teams na ‘to, pati yung team ko, kaya umaabot lang sa ganito,” said Romero.
“I don’t want to elaborate anymore on what’s happening behind the scenes, but ang masasabi ko lang, sa December 17, malaking opening ang gagawin ng PBA. The PBA will be, as scheduled, business as usual.”