By REYNALD MAGALLON
There is no Dyip phaseout in the PBA just yet.
That, after PBA commissioner Willie Marcial announced the Terrafirma franchise will continue to participate in the league\’s 50th season after the talks of sale with prospective buyer Zamboanga Valientes fell through.
Speaking in an impromptu press conference during the halftime break of the Game 3 between San Miguel and TNT, Friday, July 18, Marcial, who was joined by league legal counsel Ogie Narvasa, revealed that Terrafirma has committed to stay in the league for the next season.
“Regarding dun sa Terrafirma-Valientes negotiation, nag-bog down. Hindi nag-realize ‘yung deal ng dalawa. Pero ang Terrafirma patuloy pa rin sasali sa atin. So 12 teams pa rin tayo sa 50th,“ said Marcial.
According to Narvasa, it was a mutual decision for the two camps to not push through with the sale after failing to agree on the terms of the deal although Marcial added that the Valientes, led by Zamboanga councilor Junnie Navarro, remains interested in joining the big league.
“Siyempre alam niyo yung negotiation, may hinihingi yung isa, may hinihingi yung isa, mukhang hindi nagkasundo. So it\’s a mutual decision not to pursue the sale and purchase,“ said Narvasa.
With the talks falling apart, the trade freeze which prevented the Dyip from entering any trade, has been lifted.
It was now the second negotiation on the possible Terrafirma franchise sale that had fallen apart after an earlier negotiation between Dyip and the shipping company Starhorse also bogged down.
Narvasa added that Terrafirma governor Bobby Rosales assured the league that the Dyip will beef up their roster for next season.
As it stands, the Dyip still have seven players with live contracts while still holding the rights to free agents like Christian Standhardinger, Javi Gomez De Liano, Roosevelt Adams and Terrence Romeo.
