Cage super body meets on RP team

PBA board chairman Buddy Encarnado said he will have an open mind as he attends the initial meeting tonight of the major stakeholders in Philippine basketball with a goal of creating a super body that would oversee the formation and participation of the national team in future international jousts.

Basketball Association of the Philippines Inc. (BAPI) president Nic Jorge invited top officials of the PBA, PBL, UAAP and NCAA in a meeting set at 7 p.m. at Chateau 1771 in Ortigas Complex.

Encarnado understands that the meeting has nothing to do with the BAP-BAPI war but about possible moves to help boost the Philippine team in future international campaigns.

PBA commissioner Noli Eala is joining the league board chair in the meeting which is also to be attended by PBL commissioner Chino Trinidad and top officials of the UAAP and the NCAA.

"We don’t see nothing wrong talking and listening with them over a cup of coffee. We’ll have an open mind as we shall never ignore any move to help boost the national team," said Encarnado.

Asked about the position of the PBA board in the planned creation of the RP basketball super body, Encarnado said they can’t make a position yet as they have yet to know the exact blueprint of the project.

Encarnado also said he has yet to read the proposed by-laws reportedly drafted by former Asian Basketball Confederation secretary-general Moying Martelino.

"I’ve been very busy that’s why I’ve yet to go over the proposed by-laws. But I understand it’s patterned after that of USA Basketball. I’ll go over it probably tonight (last night) because I don’t want to go to the meeting blank on the issue at hand," Encarnado said.

Meanwhile, Alaska Milk seeks a share of the early lead with Barangay Ginebra and Talk n Text as the Aces tangle with the Coca-Cola Tigers at the resumption of the Gran Matador PBA Fiesta Conference at the Philsports Arena tonight.

Red Bull Barako and Sta. Lucia Realty play in the other game with both out to bounce back from a loss in their respective first games in the PBA transition tourney.

The Thunder are introducing a new import in Bingo Merriex who took over Carlos Wheeler.

The Alaska-Coke setto will be aired live on ABC-5 starting 7 p.m. The Red Bull-Sta. Lucia match, meanwhile, will be taped for a delayed telecast Friday also starting at 7 p.m.