No BI okay, no play for Fil-Ams

Mobiline might have strengthened its lineup following its acquisition of four new players, including Vic Pablo, but what happens to the team minus Asi Taulava?

And what happens, too, to Tanduay Rhum without its one-two punch of Sonny Alvarado and Eric Menk?

These questions are making the rounds of the pro league with the Philippine Basketball Association likely to bar several prized Fil-foreign cagers from playing minus necessary papers in its coming 26th season.

The PBA board of governors, in its last meeting, decided to adopt strict eligibility measures on Fil-Am players, declaring a "no (Bureau of Immigration) certification, no play" policy in the 2000 season which fires off either Feb. 20 or 27.

PBA commissioner Jun Bernardino will meet with Immigration commissioner Rufus Rodriguez to discuss the cases of Taulava, Alvarado, Menk and company whose deportation charges are under appeal.

"The PBA board had decided that Fil-foreign players without clearance from the BI will not be allowed to play in the coming season. We want to start with a clean slate, but I have to seek commissioner Rodriguez's guidance with regards to the players whose cases are under appeal," said Bernardino.

Other Fil-foreign players still with pending cases in the BI are San Miguel Beer's Nic Belasco, Purefoods' Andy Seigle, Shell's Chris Jackson and Pop Cola's William Antonio.

The next hearing of these cases at the BI is Jan. 15.

So far, only the lawyers of Belasco, Seigle and Menk have assured their respective mother clubs that they have already acquired necessary documents that will help clear these cagers with the immigration authorities.

Meanwhile, PBA board chairman Rey Gamboa tasked the Commissioner's Office to immediately work out the operational details of the PBA television rights contract for years 2000 to 2002.

At the same time, Gamboa took the opportunity to thank GMA Marketing and Productions Inc., ABC 5 and PTV 4 for taking part in the presentation of offers and showing genuine interest in acquiring the PBA's TV/radio coverage rights.

It will be recalled that the PBA board had awarded its broadcast coverage rights to the Vintage-Argosy-Viva consortium, to be known as Viva Vintage Sports Inc. -