Ever Bilena, Kia, NLEX aim to join PBA

MANILA, Philippines – PBA commissioner Chito Salud formally informed the board Thursday of the intention of three Ever Bilena (Blackwater Sports), Columbian Autocar Corp. (Team KIA) and NLEX to join the PBA by next season.

NLEX, another major company under the MVP Group, sent its own letter of intent to join the PBA via expansion Wednesday.

Salud said the time line for the approval of the application of the three prospective PBA expansion ball clubs will be April.

The league chieftain said they will now start to look at the corporate structure and financial capability of Ever Bilena, Columbian Autocar and NLEX. Then they make the proposal to the PBA board.

"Their admission as new franchise holders is subject to a three-fourths approval by the Board of Governors after evaluation of their financial capacity, among others, by the Commissioner and the recommendation resulting from such assessment," Salud told philstar.com.

All three bidders have expressed readiness to buy a PBA expansion franchise now pegged at Php100 million.

If ever the MVP Group would have a third team in the local pro league after Talk n Text and Meralco.

NLEX is a super power in the PBA D-League having won five of six tourneys so far.

Blackwater Sports is a one-time PBA D-League champ while Team KIA is starting from scratch. - With report from Alder Almo