MBA taps Silverstar as broadcast partner

The Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) has tapped the services of Silverstar Sports to handle the television production of all its games for the fifth season starting on April 6.

League chairman Santi Araneta of the LBC Blades, president Jean Henry Lhuillier of Cebuana Lhuillier and commissioner Chito Loyzaga are set to sign a one-year contract with Silverstar Sports president Louie Kierulf this week.

The new partnership came after the exit of ABS-CBN as the MBA’s broadcast partner. Araneta said that while NBN-4 will continue to air the games live, Silverstar Sports will handle the production.

"The MBA is happy to announce that Silverstar Sports would help us take care of the television operations for a year," said Araneta, whose team emerged national champion last year.

Meanwhile, newcomer Olongapo has acquired the services of Johnedel Cardel and Joel Dualan to help beef up the team and probably bring the Volunteers, to be coached by Junel Baculi, to the playoffs.

According to Butch Maniego, the league’s director for basketball operations, Olongapo has also signed up 6-foot-9 Jeffrey Flowers along with other players from Welcoat which recently took a leave of absence from the PBL.

Maniego said the opening ceremonies for the fifth season might be transferred from Pampanga to either Cebu or Bacolod. Pampanga begged off from hosting the opening day since the Gov. Bren Guiao Sports Complex is still under renovation.