SMC, Air 21 block Barako sale to Phoenix

Posted by Jaemark Tordecilla on March 29, 2011 at 15:59 | Comments (22)

Patricia Hizon broke the news on Twitter that the three San Miguel Corporation teams in the PBA – San Miguel Beer, Ginebra, and B-MEG Derby Ace – have voted against allowing the sale of the Barako Bull franchise to Phoenix Petroleum. With Air 21 voting alongside the conglomerate, it effectively prevents the sale from happening, as league rules dictate that a franchise sale needs the approval of 2/3rds of the board, or 7 out of 10 votes. The board ended up voting in favor of the sale, 6-4, which was not enough to approve it.

The move to block the sale comes on the heels of San Miguel’s decision to carry for the third conference the name of Petron, another petroleum company in competition with Phoenix. Interestingly, Air 21’s vote alongside the SMC group also follows talks that the Lina franchise might be selling its PBA team to the giant conglomerate.

I’ve already written in detail about how the sale to Phoenix would be great for the PBA; this move goes to show that the people involved in San Miguel and Air 21 doesn’t really give a shit about the health of the league beyond their own interests. Then again, everyone who has been following the PBA all these years kinda knew that already.

The curious thing is that this wouldn’t have happened if the PBA hadn’t railroaded a measure to restore voting rights for the Purefoods franchise last year; previously, SMC only owned two votes in the board, to ensure the balance of the league. It was then-PBA chairman and Air 21 board representative Lito Alvarez who pushed for restoring the Purefoods vote. Again, no surprise that Alvarez was involved in yet another move that would weaken the league once more.

I don’t know how the rest of the board will take this development. If the Air 21-SMC transaction pushes through, why shouldn’t the other PBA teams block that move?

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Tags: Air 21 Express / Burger King Whoppers, B-MEG Derby Ace Llamados / Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants, Barako Bull Energy Boosters / Barako Energy Coffee Masters, Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings, Basketball, Philippine Basketball Association, San Miguel Beermen

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Comments

#1 James Ty III on 2011-03-29 16:09 (Reply)

Petron is a big player. SMC and Air21 are both like bullies hurting a small kid like Phoenix!!!!

#2 Nomad on 2011-03-29 16:14 (Reply)

abangan ang susunod na kabanata! hahaha

btw, did the other teams vote in favor of the sale?

#2.1 jaemark on 2011-03-29 16:17 (Reply)

yup, 6-4 ang vote. in-add ko rin yung detail na yun sa main story.

#2.1.1 Nomad on 2011-03-29 17:48 (Reply)

ano kaya sabi ni pacman? di ba me stake din siya sa phoenix?

#2.2 James Ty III on 2011-03-29 16:18 (Reply)

The three SMC teams voted against the sale. Those in favor were TNT, Meralco, Alaska Rain or Shine and Powerade.

#3 DAMASO on 2011-03-29 16:33 (Reply)

Nasabihan ba ang SMC na Phoenix FUEL ang sasali at hindi Phoenix SUNS?

#3.1 punkzappa on 2011-03-29 17:14 (Reply)

haha. napatawa ko dun ahh. btw sana kapag yung air21 to smc naman na propasal 4-6 naman ang makuhang vote para quits! Badtrip na air21 yan. Ganda na sana eh.

#4 Rodolfo Obniala on 2011-03-29 18:08 (Reply)

Another vote must go to the PBA itself. Just like a jury, if the PBA has ten teams, a 5-5 deadlock could easily occur in deliberations. I suggest the PBA to have a vote.

#4.1 tagamalangkaw on 2011-03-30 00:11 (Reply)

kailangan muna i-amend ang by-laws ng pba bago ang pba pedeng magboto.

#5 aze on 2011-03-29 19:21 (Reply)

very disappointing, i wish that petron as a team will not reach semis, smc corp are very greedy and selfish,

#6 Lorenzo del Carmen on 2011-03-29 21:36 (Reply)

this sucks, the PBA would have been more competitive if new non SMC/MVP corporation joined in the league

#7 Swoosh on 2011-03-30 01:44 (Reply)

Kalokohan na yang ginagawa ng Air 21 at SMC. una sana pinabayaan na nila bilhin ng Phoenix ang Barako tapos imbes paglaruin sa 3rd Conference, next season n lang nila paglaruin ang Phoenix. madali lang naman un. sobra gahaman lang talaga SMC and yang tutang Air 21 na yan. pag nabili pa ng SMC ang Air 21 eh pano na yan. 4-6 na eh pano pa makukuha ung 7-3. tsk tsk dapat block din yan sale ng air21 sa smc.

#8 Ape on 2011-03-30 01:47 (Reply)

Sobrang garapalan na SMC!

Kahit siguro BURGER MACHINE ang sumali, tatablahin niyo.

#9 Tim Cone on 2011-03-30 11:48 (Reply)

Nakakawalang gana na talaga PBA, simpleng pagsali lang ng isang team sinupalpal pa nila.. This is pure BS! Hindi na nila naisip na kawawa yung mga hindi nakakapaglaro sa isa pang team

As for Air 21, KAPAL TALAGA NG MUKHA NIYO! Magkano na naman binayad sa inyo?!?

Boycott SMC teams!

#9.1 MARK on 2011-03-31 21:50 (Reply)

edi wag ka na manood ng PBA kung nawawalan ka ng gana.. basta ako kahit anong mangyari support ko pa din ang philippine basketball.. di ka naman siguro kawalan eh.. heheh..

#9.1.1 Ely on 2011-03-31 23:28 (Reply)

Anung klaseng baluktot na reason yan?? ang ayus ayos ng usapan dito nagcomment ka naman walang isip na tao ka.. ?

#10 A21 SMC on 2011-03-30 14:08 (Reply)

Jae, how true yun sinabi ni @sportssaksi na kay RSA na yun air21? Confirmed?

#10.1 James Ty III on 2011-03-31 06:52 (Reply)

As far as I know, RSA and Bert Lina are business partners.

#11 Tom on 2011-03-31 06:53 (Reply)

Will Phoenix be a conduit team for SMC? If so, they will be approved by SMC 4-0 with Air 21 to boot!

Imagine a new team with loads of potential draft picks, new prized rookies, all for SMC's taking!

#11.1 Timmeh on 2011-03-31 14:03 (Reply)

if im not mistaken, BB already sold its picks to another team.

#12 firenoli on 2011-03-31 16:31 (Reply)

I suggest that MVP buys another team.He has only 2, compering to SMC that will have 4! They're buying(or their close friend) Air 21. Isn't it creepy?!There will be obstruction in every decision by SMC,with 4 votes!Isn't these a dream come true situation for Noli Eala.He can enjoy in the revenge to MVP for kicking his ass from SBP.Revenge is the motto of his life.Besides,if SMC is ashamed for hiring him,why they did it?He snicks around the venues even though everyone knows that he is in SMC.
It would be interesting to make a statistic about SMC teams,since he came.It's worst than ever! That trade,brilliant idea from the Eala kitchen,together with BB situation.He just can't make anything fair and honest in his life.

#12.1 sundayskelter on 2011-03-31 18:58 (Reply)

its obvious, air21 is pro SMC!i just hope the league makes it easier for other teams to enter the league and get rid of the air21 fanchise!phoenix even harbour are more than willing to be in the pba and take air21's slot - the mama sang of SMC!