No offense meant

PBL chairman Mikee Romero’s explanation in yesterday’s STAR that a merger with Liga Pilipinas isn’t possible because of their divergent approaches wasn’t an affront to the fledgling, widely provincial league.

Romero, in fact, supports a team, Taguig, in Liga and recognizes Liga’s place in the basketball sun. He only pointed out that PBL has its own mission and so has Liga. Getting the two leagues together in a merger just wouldn’t make sense because their directions are divergent.

Romero said the PBL is developmental in nature and caters to collegiate players preparing for the jump to the PBA. It is also Manila-based unlike Liga which has teams all over the country. Liga is open to players of all ages with at least eight homegrowners in a roster.

Some players getting ready for the PBA suit up in both the PBL and Liga to gain maximum mileage. Bonbon Custodio, Larry Rodriguez and Mark Yee are prime examples. To be sure, the PBL and Liga aren’t competitors just as they aren’t with the PBA. They all have their reasons for existence. And for as long as they’re able to survive economically, they’ll continue to provide basketball opportunities for players.

“I am also a part of Liga Pilipinas and would not do anything to jeopardize it,” said Romero in a text to Liga president and SBP executive director Noli Eala. “We’re on the same side, let me assure you that.”

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Eala said for the record, Liga Pilipinas never formally approached Romero or anyone in the PBL or any other organization on the possibility of a merger.

But Eala mentioned there were discussions on how to more effectively manage the schedules of the PBL and Liga without encroaching on each other’s timetables.

“We discussed very informally and cursorily, how to make Liga’s and the PBL’s schedules be better synchronized and aligned but a merger with them is not in our plans in Liga,” said Eala.

“Liga can stand on its own even in our modest way. We are happy developing regional basketball. We had 13 teams and our family continues to grow because of the viability, novelty and affinity, which Liga has created for our fan base and teams.

“I laud the PBL for the objectives it has set out to accomplish and wish Dr. Romero and the PBL teams all the best.”

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Romero, by the way, said as newly elected Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines (ICFP) president, his main goal is to unify the fractious elements in the organization.

Romero was initially asked by former president Bert Lina to run for chairman in Mayor Bambol Tolentino’s ticket. Then he was courted by Lando Hiso’s group to run for the same position. He was eventually persuaded to seek the presidency for the sake of unity.

After a confusing series of elections, the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) finally recognized Romero as the new ICFP president. The hitch is the International Cycling Federation has issued a certification acknowledging Tolentino as president.

In a situation where the IF (International Federation) recognizes a president of a National Sports Association (such as the ICFP) not cleared by the POC (which recognizes somebody else), there will be chaos. Suspending the NSA by the IF is a likely offshoot - until the leadership problem is resolved. Under its Constitution and By-Laws, the POC is empowered to settle any leadership dispute with finality in an NSA. In the ICFP case, the POC has decided to recognize Romero as president despite the IF’s decision. If Tolentino protests, the IF could step in and issue sanctions – at the country’s expense.

Romero said working out business solutions in extremely complicated situations is sometimes a lot simpler than figuring a way to settle a sports problem. He has been involved in several turnaround ventures with huge stakes but that doesn’t compare to the aggravation in trying to solve a sports problem.

Romero said he’s reaching out to all parties, allies or otherwise, in cycling to unify the federation.

“We’re running out of time for the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games,” he said. “If we can get everyone together, it’ll be a big step forward.”