Commish race headed for another impasse?

The selection process for the next PBA commissioner may stretch a little longer with the ball clubs apparently still very much divided on their choice two days before their next voting tomorrow at the PBA office in Libis, Quezon City.

PBA board chairman Tony Chua told The STAR the meeting might even be postponed with some members attending to more pressing concerns.

But a reliable source said there might really be no need to push through with the meeting since the board could still end up deadlock in their voting on who will take over from officer-in-charge Sonny Barrios.

The same source said no one from either side has yet to muster the needed six votes to get the mandate for either Atty. Chito Salud or Lambert Ramos.

It could mean Magnolia, Barangay Ginebra, Welcoat, Red Bull and Coca-Cola are sticking with Salud and Alaska Milk, Sta. Lucia, Talk n Text and Air21 with Ramos.

Chua called an executive board meeting yesterday to draft proposals on how to resolve the impasse tomorrow. He was even thinking of an amendment to the rules.

Apparently, nothing happened with the board chairman saying they discussed other matters instead.

A simple majority vote could break the standoff. But naturally, the Ramos group would not agree to it as they would automatically lose the fight.

The board has gone three rounds of balloting last December but failed to resolve the issue, except eliminating third candidate Patrick Gregorio from the race.

Meanwhile, Red Bull seeks a crack at the playoff crack for an outright quarterfinals seat as it takes on Coca-Cola at the resumption of the Smart PBA Philippine Cup at the Astrodome today.

The Bulls and the Tigers battle at 4:50 p.m. before the Air21 Express and the Welcoat Dragons meet in a non-bearing game at 7:20 p.m.

Though three full games up on Coca-Coca, Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao is wary of the Tigers who are playing with hardly any pressure at all, having settled for a place in the wildcard round.

With a 9-7 card, the Bulls need to sweep their last two games to also get a chance at an outright semis entry. The Bulls have moved down from second place to fourth after losing their last two games to the Alaska Aces and the Barangay Ginebra Kings.

The Tigers have also lost their last two games, scuttling their bid to salvage a slot in the Magic Five.

Coca-Cola and Air21 both have settled for places in the wildcard round while Welcoat has moved out of the race for the playoffs.