By WAYLON GALVEZ
Will the impasse finally end between the two contending factions in the PBA Board?
The question that has been begging for an answer the past several weeks will likely find a solution when the board meets tomorrow to discuss in particular the status of Commissioner Chito Narvasa.
A source said yesterday that there are a few options the board may consider, including one that would keep Narvasa as commissioner possibly for one or two conferences while the board scouts for a replacement.
“That’s one possibility,” said the source, who asked not to be named. “Nothing is concrete really at the moment, wala pa naman talagang napag-uusapan sa board, so we’ll see.”
Last month, seven ballclubs, including three owned by telecommunications magnate Manny V. Pangilinan, withdrew their support for Narvasa in apparent protest of his decision to green light the trade between Kia and San Miguel Beer which resulted in 6-foot-7 forward Christian Standhardinger going to SMB with the No. 1 pick.
Five teams – San Miguel Beer, Magnolia (formerly Star), Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, GlobalPort and Kia – continued to back Narvasa, who, before the uproar, ironically received unanimous approval from the board to rule on the Standhardinger trade as he saw fit.
During last Thursday’s PBA Press Corps Annual Awards, GlobalPort owner, Rep. Mikee Romero, confidently declared that the deadlock will end this week and that the opening of the 43rd season will push through as scheduled on Dec. 17.