GAB: No rehab for Taulava, Peña

Asi Taulava and Dorian Peña need only to go through counseling or therapy and not a thorough clinical drug rehabilitation to be re-issued playing license in time for the Talk N Text-San Miguel tiff Sunday.

Games and Amusements Board chairman Eduardo Villanueva made the clarification in a phone conversation with PBA commissioner Noli Eala Wednesday night.

Villanueva said he would make a formal clarification of the controversial resolution the GAB board passed last Feb. 27 in the next few days.

The PBA wanted to be clarified on the resolution for future application in the league.

San Miguel Beer and Talk N Text officials also wanted to clear the air on the GAB resolution requiring Taulava and Peña to serve a two-game suspension, enroll and undergo a six-month rehabilitation program and test negative for prohibited drugs to have their playing license reactivated.

According to Eala, Talk N Text and San Miguel will only be asked by the GAB to submit a certification that Taulava and Peña will comply with the rehab program to have the suspension of the two players’ license lifted.

The PBA urged the GAB to reconsider the imposition of the rehab program but Villanueva reportedly said they couldn’t do it, having presented the resolution to some senators during a Senate hearing Tuesday.

But despite the question on the resolution, Eala had said he would allow Taulava and Peña to return to action after serving their two-game suspension.

Both players have sat out two games and are now ready to rejoin their respective teams as they clash Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.

"Payag na sana akong huwag maglaro si Asi at Dorian sa Sunday. Masyadong malakas si Asi," said San Miguel coach Jong Uichico.

Meanwhile, Alaska and Ginebra put their clean slates on the line as they square off in the Samsung PBA All-Filipino Cup at the Ynares Center today. Sta. Lucia and FedEx, both in search of a first win in the tourney, clash in the other game in the Antipolo venue.

The Coca-Cola Tigers and the Purefoods Hotdogs fly to Iloilo City to play in a road game at the University of San Agustin gym tomorrow.

In another development, the Commissioner’s Office announced it has decided to cancel the league’s visit in Davao City on March 15 in the aftermath of the bombing at the Davao airport Tuesday.

The FedEx Express and the Alaska Aces were to play in a game coinciding with the "Araw ng Dabaw" celebrations.