MVP’s NBA dream not yet shelved

MANILA, Philippines - Businessman-sports lover Manuel V. Pangilinan has not totally shelved plans of buying into a National Basketball Association (NBA) team as he continues to study offers.

Pangilinan said in an interview with reporters that he is seriously looking at offers for him to invest between five percent and 10 percent in an NBA team.

He refused to divulge the names of the teams but hinted that he is looking at a team in the Western Division of the NBA.

These teams include Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunders, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis, San Antonio Spurs, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz, Portland Trailblazers, Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings, and New Orleans.

“It’s a team in the west,” he stressed.

A few years ago, Pangilinan confirmed reports that he was looking at a majority stake in an offer to join a group of investors that was supposed to take over the struggling Sacramento Kings in the NBA.

The group of investors was organized by retired former NBA All-Star Chris Webber, who was part of the Kings from 1998 to 2005.

Pangilinan met with Webber during a trip to Sacramento where he visited the Kings’ home stadium – the Arco Arena and was looking at shelling out between $200 million and $260 million for a stake in the NBA team.

Had the deal pushed through, Pangilinan was supposed to be the first Asian to control an NBA franchise.

Pangilinan, who is president of Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, owns several franchises in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) including the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters and the Meralco Bolts and at the same time supports several amateur teams playing in the PBA D-League including the NLEX Warriors.

He also supports college basketball including UP Maroons in the UAAP as well as the San Beda Red Lions in the NCAA.