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| Hapee was among two clubs who made intentions to join the PBA. Ivan Saldajeno (file photo) |
By Ivan Saldajeno
TOKYO--Hapee and Racal may have to wait for at most five years before they can join the PBA.
The league announced on Wednesday at its annual board meeting in Tokyo that it will stick with the 12-team format for the next three to five years, effectively deferring the application of both sides.
Incoming PBA CEO Chito Salud, however, clarified that the league will still be open for expansion but it depends on how Blackwater and newly-renamed Mahindra will fare.
“We will accommodate expansion teams, maybe two within the next three to five years depending on the performance of the last two that we accepted,” the outgoing commissioner said on the league's website.
On the other hand, Salud also said that a women's basketball league may be founded in the near future. He even thinks it may take place by next year.
“Give us a year and we’ll introduce a women’s D-League,” he continued.
Also resolved in the meeting were the construction of a youth sports academy and the introduction of a retired players' fund. Both are expected to be implemented in three to five years.
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