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| PBA commissioner Willie Marcial and legal counsel Ogie Narvasa announced that Terrafirma is staying for Season 50. Joseph Sanvictores |
QUEZON CITY--At least for another year, Terrafirma is staying in the PBA.
Commissioner Willie Marcial confirmed on Friday night that the embattled franchise will be the 12th team in the landmark 50th season of Asia's premier professional basketball league.
"Ang Terrafirma, patuloy na sasali sa atin. Twelve teams pa rin tayo sa 50th," Marcial said at halftime of Game 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals between TNT and San Miguel at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
PBA legal counsel Ogie Narvasa also said that at least for the foreseeable future, Terrafirma will remain a member team of the league.
"Tuluy-tuloy lang for as long as they want to stay," said Narvasa.
The development came after Marcial also confirmed that the franchise sale between the Dyip and Zamboanga Valientes failed to materialize.
"Nag-bog down," Marcial described how the negotiations fell through.
Narvasa added, "There were terms and requirements by both teams na hindi nag-meet. Syempre alam nyo naman yung negotiation. May hinihingi yung isa't-isa. Mukhang hindi nagkasundo."
Marcial also said that even if the franchise takeover failed, Zamboanga City councilor Junnie Navarro, the team owner of the multisport program, still wants to join the league.
The former commissioner of the defunct MBA also said that Terrafirma, although already losing Stanley Pringle to Rain or Shine and Aldrech Ramos to MPBL's San Juan, plans to become competitive for Season 50 starting on Oct. 5.
"Noong [PBA board] meeting, sinabi ni Governor Bob [Rosales] na they have their plans to beef up and have a full lineup. Hindi naman sinabi sa amin paano. Syempre hindi niya sasabihin. Strategy nila yun," Narvasa further said.
The Dyip have a solid young core led by CJ Catapusan and Mark Nonoy, and they, too, have the playing rights to Javi Gomez De Liano should the former Anyang Red Booster decide to go back to the PBA.
Terrafirma can also lure Christian Standhardinger and Terrence Romeo back, and the team holds the number one pick in the upcoming draft as well.
Follow him on X: @IvanSaldajeno
