PBL Unity Cup likely to be reset

The second PBL Unity Cup, originally scheduled to begin March 20, is likely to be moved March 27 or the first week of April as league officials have yet to finalize deals with prospective television coveror ABS-CBN.

League chairman Dioceldo Sy, president of DSS Productmakers, Inc., which owns Blustar Detergent, said their negotiation with ABS-CBN had been suspended due to the demise of veteran broadcaster Frankie Evangelista.

"Talks have been suspended kasi busy pa so far yung mga taong kausap namin na taga-ABS-CBN dahil namatay nga si Frankie Evangelista. Baka next week pa mag-resume ang pag-uusap namin," said Sy.

Sy also said they were awaiting the return of PBL commissioner Chino Trinidad from his coverage of the NBA All-Star game in Los Angeles.

"We’re also waiting for him (Trinidad) as we will definitely need his advice regarding this matter," Sy said.

Trinidad announced before he left for the US that the league was close to signing a contract with Studio 23, a UHL channel of ABS-CBN.

Trinidad also said the league’s in-house staff, which has been producing PBL games since 2000, would be abolished.

"We’re just finalizing a few details but I think it’s already 80-90 percent sure that Studio 23 will broadcast our games starting this season," Sy added. — Joey Villar