Nelson Beltran reports in today’s Philippine Star (sadly, the story doesn’t seem to be online read the story here) that Barako Bull is taking a leave of absence from the Philippine Basketball Association. The move would pave the way for Smart Gilas to play two conferences in the PBA, an idea that initially drew apprehension from Commissioner Chito Salud because it would disrupt the league’s calendar. With Barako dropping out, Smart Gilas could take the Energy Boosters’ slot in the Commissioner’s Cup and the Governors’ Cup.

James Ty posted a few more details on Twitter, saying that Barako will pay the salaries of the remaining players under contract, and they will be allowed to try out for other teams as well. The marquee names in the Barako Bull lineup include Marlou Aquino, Lordy Tugade, and Rob Wainwright, who has also ready taken to Twitter to look for a team.

Barako Bull leaving the PBA is certainly a welcome development, and is another step to ensuring the competitive balance of the league. Personally, I thought this should have happened sooner. The league should have acted as soon as there were reports that Barako was making trouble making payroll; it definitely hurt the image of the league, and by extension, the teams in it. I’m not sure team officials are aware of just how much having a joke of a team in Barako in the PBA hurt their brand.

The reason for this is that from a basketball perspective, having Barako in the league was a boon, especially for stronger teams, who could keep picking off assets from the team in exchange for mere cash considerations. They couldn’t care less about what the fans think, and it kept happening time and again over the last two years. And each time, the transaction became more brazen than the last.

If this is indeed the end, it’ll be a sad, if overdue, exit for the once-proud Photokina franchise. The company marked its entry in Philippine basketball after joining the Philippine Amateur Basketball League in the late ‘80s under the Agfa Color banner (here’s an old game result from Manila Standard – take a look at the name of hero of the game).

Agfa and later Red Bull continued to compete in the rechristened PBL before joining the PBA in 2000, tapping amateur standouts Kerby Raymundo, Jimwell Torion, Junthy Valenzuela, Lordy Tugade, and Bernard Tanpua, signing Fil-Ams Davonn Harp and Mick Pennisi, and convincing then-PBL Commissioner Yeng Guiao to mentor the team. Under Guiao, the franchise won three titles: the 2001 Commissioner’s Cup (with Tony Lang), the 2002 Commissioner’s Cup (with Julius Nwosu and Sean Lampley), and the 2005-2006 Fiesta Conference (with James Penny). Willie Miller won the 2002 PBA Most Valuable Player award as a member of the franchise.

Observers have pointed to the company’s loss of the import franchise for the Red Bull energy drink as the reason for the downturn of its economic fortunes. But Photokina was involved in another controversy that could have affected its bottom line more severely. During the Estrada administration, the company was awarded a PhP6.5-billion by the Commission on Elections for the Voter Registration and Identification System (VRIS), which was part of the country’s election automation project.

But the deal met opposition from within the commission itself, as then-Chairman Harriet O. Demetriou expressed disapproval toward the contract. Her successor, Alfredo Benipayo, took things a step further, announcing that the Comelec would scrap the project altogether.

Photokina sought an injunction with the Quezon City Regional Trial Court to compel the Comelec to execute the contract. This was questioned by Benipayo and Commissioners Resurreccion Borra and Florentino Tuason, Jr. before the Supreme Court.

The deal was voided in 2004 by the high court, in a 14-0 vote, because it was “illegal and against public policy.”