Blue Eagles may fly back to PBL coop

After an absence of one conference, Ateneo de Manila is knocking on the Philippine Basketball League’s door again.

Simon Mossesgeld, named last month as the Blue Eagles’ manager, said they are close to sealing a deal with a corporation that would bankroll their participation in the league’s season-opening conference tentatively scheduled on March 22.

"Ateneo is very interested in forming a team in the PBL," Mossesgeld, an Ateneo alumnus and former manager of Purefoods in the PBA from 1996 to 1998, told The STAR.

"I really can’t name the company we’re talking to right now because I don’t want to pre-empt things but there is a 70-percent chance we might agree on something," he added.

PBL commissioner Chino Trinidad said they are amenable to accepting the Eagles anew as their 10th ballclub but Ateneo must first secure permission from Lamoiyan Corporation, which owns Dazz Dishwashing Liquid, before it could be accepted as a guest team.

"We haven’t heard anything from Ateneo lately but we’re going to tackle that in our board meeting," said Trinidad.

"Should they decide to join us again, they must first get a go-signal from Mr. Cecilio Pedro of Lamoiyan before we can accept them," he added.

It can be recalled that Pedro, Lamoiyan’s owner, funded Ateneo’s successful stint in last year’s Chairman’s Cup using its other brand, Hapee Toothpaste.

The reigning UAAP seniors’ cage champion, citing fatigue and academic demands, took a leave of absence, in the Challenge Cup that same year.

As of last count, there are seven holdover teams — reigning Challenge Cup titlist Welcoat Paints, Blu All Purpose, Dazz, LBC Batangas, ICTSI La Salle, Montana Pawnshop and John-O.

Nutrilicious has already bought Jessie Chua’s Cheeseball-Shark franchise while Cosmos Bottling Corporation, acquired last year by beverage giant San Miguel Corporation, is a signature away from getting accepted in the PBL.

Cebu-based General Milling Corp. has also signified its intention to join the league.

Mossesgeld said that if things work out as planned, the core of the team would be composed of standouts Rich Alvarez, Wesley Gonzales, LA Tenorio, Larry Fonacier, Paolo Bugia and Magnum Membrere.

"Basically this is it but we’re also planning to get some other players to help us," said Mossesgeld. – Joey Villar