PBA back in business; Viva losing?

After lending a big hand to the country’s campaign in the 14th Asian Games in Busan, Korea, the Philippine Basketball Association resumes business with the staging of the All-Filipino Conference starting Oct. 20 at the Araneta Coliseum.

But there’s one bad news – everything is ready for the season-ending tourney except the outfit which is to bring on-court action to the homes of PBA fans through television.

Viva Vintage Sports Inc. is reportedly bleeding badly it was to seek audience with the PBA board of governors last night, appealing for yet another restructuring of their contract for the airing of PBA games.

A reliable source said Viva Vintage is so much in the red it might not be able to continue with its task of airing the PBA games if the league board won’t give leeway on certain terms of their contract.

The partnership of Viva Vintage with the PBA is set to end this season but the TV outfit of Vic del Rosario has reportedly accumulated about P100 million in arrears. Viva Vintage also has had delays in payment of salaries to its talents and employees.

A board member said they have already heeded two appeals by Viva Vintage earlier this year, thus, he doubted another leeway to be given by the league.

The contract was originally worth more or less P800 million spread over three years, starting in 2000. Viva Vintage inherited it from Viva Television which likewise requested for a restructuring of its own contract with the league as the country’s economy plunged in 1999.

Dubbed as the Selecta All-Filipino Cup, the most prestigious tournament of the year opens with a two-game bill marking the comeback of national players to their respective mother teams.

Fil-Am star Eric Menk will finally wear the Barangay Ginebra jersey after sharing his expertise to the national team as the Kings clash with the Purefoods Hotdogs in the opener. The Hotdogs, who ruled the Governors Cup earlier in the year, will welcome the return of national players Noy Castillo, Andy Seigle and Boyet Fernandez.

The other game in the opener pits FedEx Express against San Miguel Beer.

In the second playdate on Oct. 23 at the Philsports Arena, it will be Commissioner’s Cup titlist Red Bull against Coca-Cola and Alaska versus Shell.

Sta. Lucia Realty and Talk N Text make their debut in the tourney as they clash on Oct. 25 at the Astrodome. On the same day, Purefoods clashes with FedEx.