by Moses Billacura
Happy birthday to James A. Zimmerman!
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Reports have clearly indicated that should San Miguel Beer pursue to change its name to Petron Blaze, this would likely kill Phoenix Petroleum Philippines’ chances of joining the PBA.
Likely, I say, because the PBA has allowed in the past rival products in the league but eventually stuck to a lockout rule.
I don’t know what’s on the minds of San Miguel Beer officials, why they have to rename the team when, in fact, another petroleum company has expressed its interest to join. But the PBA Board will have the final say on whether to accept the team of sportsman Dennis Uy, according to the report.
But take note that the PBA Board is dominated by San Miguel Corp. and I clearly remember when an unhappy Bong Tan Jr. of Tanduay Rhum Masters eventually left the league and complained that the PBA is not the PBA league but a “San Miguel league”.
We closely followed Tanduay because Matina resident Joemer Rubi of the Holy Cross of Davao College Crusaders was their point guard and so far, as per happy memory, the
best player of the late multi-titled college coach Arthur “Tura” Sumalinog, whose strict and efficient training program led to the domination of the Crusaders in the league during the 1990s.
Phoenix Petroleum, you see, is buying the franchise owned by Barako Bull, which is taking a leave, for a reported amount of at least P60 million. It could be even more. Whew! Yes, that’s expensive.
I hope that the PBA Board will give its approval for Phoenix to join and give chance to a Davao-based company to soar high and get noticed by millions of PBA fans and, eventually, boost its presence in the petro market.
For long-time SMB Pale Pilsen fans, they can never forget the company’s famous commercial tagline, “Iba na ang may pinagsamahan”.
Dennis Uy and Phoenix Petroleum would like to join the PBA samahan, but will San Miguel Corp. welcome a new friend to join the club?
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Top Rank chief Bob Arum confirmed that Floyd Mayweather Jr. will only fight world boxing champion and Davao City’s adopted son Manny Pacquiao for $100 million.
What?
Floyd Jr. is dreaming.
While our poll says that 82.56% of the voters wanted them to fight and it could not be argued that this is what fans are craving for, the money Floyd Jr. is asking for is just too much.
Fans troop to the stadium because they love to see Manny Pacquiao, not Floyd Jr.
Unfortunately, Floyd Jr. does not see it that way.
Floyd Jr. should better settle for a lower prize money and give boxing fans the fight they want to see.
Frankly, the Pacquiao-Sugar Mosley fight on May 7 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada is not what the hard-core Pacman fans really want.
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Happy birthday to former Philippine Chess Federation regional director Engr. Alex Sempio Baruis and ate Malou T. Balugo.
