PBA mulls allowing direct hires for Kia, NLEX, Blackwater

MANILA, Philippines – Newly accepted PBA expansion teams NLEX, Blackwater Sports and Team Kia might get special concessions in forming their respective rosters after all.

PBA commissioner Chito Salud announced Friday the PBA board of governors has agreed to take a second look at the initial concessions granted the three new teams.

In its next regular meeting on April 24, the league board will discuss how NLEX, Blackwater Sports and Team Kia be given a better opportunity to form competitive lineups.

Initially, the board decided the three teams will start from scratch or they are forming their rosters from the expansion draft where existing ball clubs will release only their 15th and 16th players.

Others composing the expansion pool are veteran free agents and unrestricted rookie free agents.

In the case of Rain or Shine in joining the league in 2006, the team was allowed to elevate three players from its PBL team and was given the last pick in the first round of the rookie draft. The league also held an expansion draft where the existing ball clubs protected only 10 players from their rosters.

“The challenge before us in the Office of the Commissioner and the Board of Governors is how to address the formation of the lineups of the different applicants,” said Salud.

 NLEX expressed disappointment over the initial concessions offered by the board, and had thought of making an appeal.

“We welcome the new development,” said Ramoncito Fernandez, the chief executive officer and president of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corp.

“If there’s no change in their offer, pupulutin kami sa kankungan,” Fernadez pointed out.

“We have requested that we be allowed to bring up some of our players from our D-League team with the objective of helping make the PBA more exciting and more competitive,” Fernandez further said.

It will be remembered that Purefoods, Pepsi Cola, RFM Corp. and Red Bull were given special concessions during their expansion entry in the league.

The most recent PBA expansion team in 2000, Red Bull was allowed to automatically sign up then PBL players Kerby Raymundo, Junthy Valenzuela, Jimwell Torion, Lordy Tugade, Davonn Harp and Bernard Tanpua.

In 1988, Purefoods got to form a highly competitive team right away by taking over Tanduay with stars Ramon Fernandez, Freddie Hubalde, Padim Israel and Onchie dela Cruz then directly hired amateur stars Alvin Patrimonio, Jojo Lastimosa, Jerry Codinera, Glenn Capacio and Jack Tanuan.