Pharma Quick gains PBL nod, competes in Challenge

The Philippine Basketball League decided to deviate from its ideal eight-team format as it accepted Pharma Quick as the ninth team in the PBL Challenge Cup set to kick off Nov. 4 at the Makati Coliseum.

PBL commissioner Chino Trinidad, guesting in the weekly Sports Communicators Organization of the Philippines (SCOOP) sa Kamayan West Avenue last Friday, said that social dimension was the biggest factor why the PBL membership committee decided to accept the Sandy Javier-owned company during the deliberation Thursday night.

"Pharma Quick came to us seeking our help, and we saw the social responsibility as contribution sa mga kababayan natin dahil dito sila makakakuha ng murang gamot at 24 oras pa ang serbisyo sa tao," explained Trinidad, who was joined by PBL COO Perry Martinez and Ike Guanio, president of the newly-organized Metropolitan Amateur Billiards League (MABL).

With Pharma Quick’s entry, the PBL regular conference will carry a three-group, inter-intra format where each team plays its co-group twice and teams in the other two groups once.

Pharma Quick is grouped with two other probationary members – La-Salle-Osaka Iridologists and Ateneo-Pioneer Insurance. Three-peat champion Welcoat Paints is joined by Ana Freezers and the revitalized Montana Pawnshop in Group A while Chairman’s Cup runner-up Shark Energy Drink is grouped with Hapee Toothpaste and Baguio champion Blu Detergent.

The semifinals format is still open since the league is also negotiating for the participation of top Taiwanese team Yulong-Nissan Motors which will be seeded to the semifinals against the top five qualifiers.

Javier, who’s ready to comply with the P1.5 million franchise fee aside from the administrative and TV coverage expenses, tapped Bernard Fabiosa as head coach and is currently finalizing his line-up.