Hotdogs’ fate up to PBA board

The PBA Board of Governors is likely to sit down in an emergency meeting in the next few days to decide on the fate of the Purefoods ballclub in the league in the face of the imminent purchase by San Miguel Corp. of Purefoods Corp.

SMC, in a statement to the Philippine Stock Exchange, yesterday said it has agreed with Ayala Corp. on the indicative terms for the acquisition of Purefoods although they still have to thresh out details of the sale.

Purefoods team manager Rene Pardo, who is also assistant vice president of the Purefoods Corp., said the Purefoods PBA franchise is included in the list of assets the Ayala Group is selling to SMC.

This development put the PBA in a bind because the PBA constitution prohibits one corporate member from maintaining more than two teams in the league.

SMC has already two teams playing in the PBA in San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra. It will get a third team in Purefoods once its purchase of the giant food conglomerate is finalized.

Pardo said Purefoods PBA governor Butch Alejo has sought a meeting with commissioner Jun Bernardino to discuss possible scenarios for Purefoods if it is finally acquired by San Miguel.

Purefoods officials are aware San Miguel can opt to sell the franchise to an outside party but discount the possibility of this being done in haste with the season in full steam.

Pardo thought the board may call an status quo at the moment, allowing SMB to maintain Purefoods but minus its voting power in any issue.

Meanwhile, Mobiline put the result of its Wednesday game versus Alaska under protest, claiming the referees made one erroneous call that decided the outcome of the contest.

The Aces stole a 73-71 win over the Phone Pals with John Arigo nailing two charities off a foul by Vic Pablo at the buzzer.

In a letter of protest to the Commissioner’s Office, Mobiline governor Iggy Yenko claimed Arigo had no clear possession of the ball and there was no obvious foul committed by Pablo in the crucial play.

PBA finance officer Richard Palou, who is also head of the league technical group, said they have repeatedly reviewed the game tape and thought the referee made the right call.

"We couldn’t see reason why the foul should not be called," said Palou.

At the resumption of the PBA All-Filipino Cup action at the Philsports Arena today, Red Bull and Shell dispute a share of the lead with San Miguel while Tanduay welcomes Dindo Pumaren in its fold as it plays Ginebra.