PBA owners: Manny Pangilinan (4th from left) and Ramon Ang (5th) sit side by side

Pictures from yesterday’s PBA owners’ meeting showed a curious seating arrangement: Manuel V. Pangilinan, chairman of PLDT and Metro Pacific, and Ramon S. Ang, president of San Miguel Corporation, sat side by side to discuss the league’s problems with the other teams’ top honchos. Tonight, when game 2 of the Philippine Cup finals between San Miguel and Talk N Text tips off, the corporate “frenemies” will be back on opposing sides rooting for their flagship basketball teams, a position they’ve probably grown accustomed to over the past several years.

Continue reading "San Miguel-Talk N Text series the latest saga in Ramon Ang-Manny Pangilinan rivalry"

I traveled to Thailand a couple of times this year along with my colleagues from the day job to conduct training seminars for expatriate Burmese journalists working for Mizzima News. It was an eye-opening experience, to say the least, and even though the training schedule was packed, there was time to shoot the breeze a little with the Burmese journos. In fact, I was even able to ask them about how they felt about the last Rambo film, which was set in Burma and filmed in Thailand. Apparently, the pirated DVD of the movie was a huge hit among the Burmese, and the guys I talked to were even proud to share that they knew fellow Burmese exiles who scored gigs as extras in the Stallone film.

Continue reading "Philippines versus Burma"

I always felt that the sports media should do more vetting on Chito Salud, the new PBA commissioner, considering that the public knows little about the man who would be occupying one of the most important positions in Philippine sports. Fortunately, the Manila Bulletin’s Tito Talao came out with a hard-hitting report last week about the PBA’s new chief:

Continue reading "Everything you wanted to know about new PBA commissioner Chito Salud, but sportswriters were too lazy to ask"

While trolling around the Pinoy Exchange forums, I came across an interesting discussion about my previous post about the San Miguel Corporation possibly selling control of some of its core businesses in food, beer, and liquor. The last post, about a potential buyer for the San Miguel Pure Foods Corporation, caught my eye, and got my wheels turning:

i have a source na baka daw ibenta ang pfoods sa unilab. not sure about pero parang ganun daw. though nagtataka ako ang layo ng unilab para mag venture sa food industry. i asked him if what will happen to pfoods once mangyari nun.. no answer siya

Continue reading "A totally unsubstantiated rumor about a potential buyer for Purefoods: The Unilab family"

Several weeks back, I wrote about the interest of Japanese beer giant Kirin to increase its stake in San Miguel Brewery and gain control of the San Miguel subsidiary. At the time, San Miguel Corporation president Ramon Ang denied that the food and beverage giant was looking to give up control of its beer operation, saying that the company seeks to retain control of its main businesses, which include San Miguel Brewery Inc., Ginebra San Miguel Inc., and San Miguel Pure Foods Corporation.

Continue reading "San Miguel looking to sell control of SMB, Ginebra, Purefoods businesses; Danding Cojuangco looking to cash out?"

Last Friday, Bloomberg reported that Kirin was looking into the possibility of raising its stake in San Miguel Brewery. The Japanese beer giant already owns 48% of the company, with San Miguel Corporation owning 51%.

Continue reading "Japanese beer company looking to take control of San Miguel Brewery"

The new PBA season is barely three weeks old, but Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio is already in midseason form when it comes to his soundbites. Check them out:

Continue reading "Ryan “The Genius” Gregorio dispenses wisdom"

The Burger King Whoppers and the Rain or Shine Elastopainters each booked a seat to the PBA's final four last night, joining early qualifiers San Miguel and Ginebra.

Continue reading "About last night: Burger King, Rain or Shine complete PBA Semifinals cast"

The returning Marquin Chandler led Purefoods to a 92-85 win over Coca-cola. Tigers coach Kenneth Duremdes was hampered by sore eyes, and sat behind the bench in sunglasses.

The rampaging San Miguel notched win no. 8 against Talk N Text, in a game featuring the return of Danny Ildefonso. Danny I. looked good against the porous Tropang Texters defense. At one point, Ildefonso ran a pick-and-roll with Olsen Racela which resulted in a wide-open jam (raise the roof!). Valerie Concepcion and Danding Cojuangco were both in the house to cheer for the Beermen, while the Talk N Text side featured celebrity Rufa Mae Quinto and BB Gandanghari.

Continue reading "About last night: Danny I. raises the roof again in PBA Wednesday"

The economic downturn is affecting everyone, and it has hit local amateur commercial basketball particularly hard. The Philippine Basketball League, the traditional breeding ground for Philippine basketball's rising stars, beginning their new tournament while reeling from the departure of two members (Burger King and Toyota Otis), are down to five teams.

It makes sense. Unlike the PBA, the PBL is truly borne out of love: companies pay teams to play in near-empty arenas and there is next to no one watching on television.

This is Fire Quinito's primer for each team, with a different twist: a profile of each team owner. Who are they, and what do they do? And why the hell are they still in the PBL?

Danding Cojuangco and his Magnolia Purewater Wizards is next.

Continue reading "PBL Preview: Danding Cojuangco and the Magnolia Purewater Wizards"