PBA: No move to expel Tanduay

Philippine Basketball Association chairman Wilfred Steven Uytengsu said last night there is no immediate move to expel Tanduay from the league due to non-payment of fines imposed on the team.

Uytengsu made the clarification in reaction to news reports that the PBA board was threatening Tanduay with suspension or expulsion for alleged non-payment of fines and arrears.

But the Alaska team owner admitted that PBA treasurer Alberto Villa Abrille has sent a final demand letter for payment to Tanduay.

Uytengsu said Tanduay has started to pay its arrears but didn’t specify the amount.

A board member earlier told The Star Tanduay owes the PBA P27 million – P9.5 million on fines incurred on the Fil-Am case and the rest as balance on franchise payment agreed upon on its re-entry to the league last year.

"Members having arrears with the league has rarely occurred. Tanduay’s act of paying is a sign of good faith on their part, and I assume they intend to continue being a member in good standing," said Uytengsu.

"However, all arrears must be settled by the end of the month. Clearly, this is not a situation condoned by the board and we expect all members to maintain their financial obligations to the league," he added.

Meanwhile, Sean Green had been diagnosed to have suffered nothing serious but a severe sprained ankle, yet Pop Cola officials decided to place him on the injured list, signing up Cedrick McCullough to play in their out-of-town game versus Mobiline tomorrow in Legaspi City.

Green will stay in Manila while McCullough accompanies the Panthers in their Bicol trip where the former Northern Iowa mainstay gets the chance to strut his stuff in the PBA.

McCullough, 29, has been in the country for over two weeks now, paying his way to Manila in the company of Chicago-based player agent Rolando Hiso with hopes of landing a job in the local pro league.

Pop Cola coach Chot Reyes said McCullough had tried out with the team before the tournament started. Reyes noted McCullough is not a scorer but more of a defensive player.

McCullough has played in several international competitions, competing in Australia, France, Chile and Latvia, according to his agent.

But before McCullough makes his PBA debut, Brian Green makes his as the University of Nevada-Reno alumnus suits up with the Barangay Ginebra Kings versus the Red Bull Thunder in the main game of today’s Governors Cup twinbill at the Philsports Arena.

Actually a pair of duels between an unbeaten team and a winless squad is up tonight with Sta. Lucia Realty and Tanduay Rhum clashing in the other game at 5:15 p.m.

Ginebra officials sent Roy Hammonds home after two losses and hired Green to take his job.

Green established a reputation as a bigtime scorer with MVP titles won in the US NCAA Big West Conference with the UNR Wolfpacks and the United States Basketball League with the Florida Sea Dragons.

In the recent International Basketball Association campaign, the 6-foot-4 Green averaged 27.8 points with the Dakota Wizards.