Salud: Barako leave okay if all bases covered

BACOLOD, Philippines  – If the interest of everybody is protected, PBA commissioner Chito Salud is amenable to Barako Bull’s offer to give its spot to Smart Gilas in the coming PBA second conference.

“I’m open to it if it’s just for one conference and for as long as everybody’s protected,” said Salud who led yesterday the main bulk of the PBA delegation flying here for the opener today of the San Miguel Beer-Talk n Text showdown for the Philippine Cup championship.

Salud said he’s recommending to the league board that they accept Barako’s offer on certain conditions intended to protect the league, the ball club, the coach and his staff, and the players down to the support staff.

The PBA chief said Barako and Smart Gilas should agree that the deal is only for one conference, Smart Gilas will play as “Team Pilipinas” without promoting any product and that both Barako and Smart Gilas won’t have shares in league revenues.

During Barako’s hiatus, Salud said they could put the Energy Coffee Masters in a dispersal draft, allowing them to temporarily play with the other ball clubs.

“After the conference, these players would be back to their mother team,” said Salud.

Barako has 16 players under its fold, and these include new trade acquisitions Marlou Aquino and Lordy Tugade.

“I think these conditions are easy for them. If these are acceptable to them, then let’s accept Barako’s offer,” said Salud.

PBA board chairman Rene Pardo expects other inputs to come in as they discuss the matter during their meeting Tuesday at Edsa Shangri-La Plaza Hotel in Mandaluyong.

Pardo himself is open to Barako’s offer, and he’s hopeful this leads to “win-win solution” on the concerns of Barako, the national team and the league itself.

“Personally, I see this development solving the problem of the Commissioner’s Office. With Barako sacrificing its slot for Smart Gilas, we keep a 10-team roster which fits the schedule. This also gives Barako time to rebuild its team for the third conference,” Pardo has said.

Board members, however, are likely to engage in debates on Salud’s recommendations with regards to advertising and revenues.