No buyer of Alaska franchise yet says Fred Uytengsu

Key players like Jeron Teng and Robbie Herndon could end up undergoing a dispersal draft if Alaska could not find a buyer for its PBA franchise. PBA Images (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Despite already set to leave the PBA after this season, the franchise Alaska will let go has yet to have a new owner.

Alaska Milk Corporation chairman Fred Uytengsu said on Wednesday that at present time, no company has reached out to him about potentially buying his PBA team.

"There are no immediate buyers at this point in time, but it remains a possibility that we will sell our franchise to another company if they want to come in at the end of the season," Uytengsu said in a press conference on Wednesday, moments after the Aces made the shock announcement that they will depart the league after 35 seasons.

[Related Story: Alaska leaving PBA after Governors' Cup]

Uytengsu's clarification came amid speculations of which company will take over from Alaska when initial rumors about the club leaving the PBA surfaced a few years ago.

A second option, according to Uytengsu, is that the franchise would be completely dissolved and all the players in the lineup led by current stars Jeron Teng and Abu Tratter will be placed under a dispersal draft, which could be done during the rookie draft event in May.

For now, according to Uytengsu, the focus is on leaving the league with a bang by clinching the Governors' Cup title.

"As I told the team today, there is still one more conference to get our 15th ring, so I'm not throwing in the towel yet," he further said. "I hope Alaska is in the finals."

Currently tied with Barangay Ginebra and the San Miguel Beermen for fifth place at 3-2, the Aces are in the race to clinch a twice-to-beat advantage in the PBA Governors' Cup quarterfinals.

Alaska will resume its quest on Thursday night against Rain Or Shine at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno