PBL can bring in only 2 new teams

The Philippine Basketball League (PBL) never had it this good.

Not just one but at least four teams have been knocking at the door of the amateur commercial league, perhaps the largest number of prospective aspirants the PBL had in its 20-year of existence.

Yet in as much as league commissioner Chino Trinidad would want to accept all of them, only two teams are bound to be accommodated at the moment.

"Madali lang naman ang mag-expand, but it’s hard kung masyado namang mabilis. Baka malula tayo sa sobrang expansion," said Trinidad, who shared the limelight in yesterday’s PSA Forum at the Holiday Inn hotel with Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) president Tiny Literal, BAP internal vice president Christian Tan and RP Youth team coach Johnny Tam.

Although no formalities have been reached, Trinidad said RFM owner Joey Concepcion and Santi Araneta of LBC-Batangas are two of the parties constantly in touch with him regarding their possible stints in the league.

The other two, Cebuana Lhuillier and Tanduay, initially inquired about the matter but have yet to signify their intentions of joining the league.

At present, the league has eight active members, and in the event both RFM and LBC are accepted, that brings the total number of ballclubs to 10, a figure which Trinidad said is more manageable to handle.

"Mas madali kasing I-handle kung even numbers ang total ng teams. Now, if ever two more teams apply ang magiging kondisyon namin is for them to wait at least until the 2003 season," Trinidad added in the same forum sponsored by Afga Colors, Red Bull and Pioneer Insurance.

The surge in the number of teams interested to join the PBL came following the collapse of the Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA). Prior to its closure, works were on the way on a supposed merger between the MBA and the PBL, only for the plan to be shelved later on.