(From GMA News)
Is Harbour Centre now seizing control of Barako Bull’s franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association?
This question was raised following reports that members of the Philippine Patriots, a team in the Asean Basketball League also bankrolled by Harbour honcho Mikee Romero, will join the Energy Boosters in coming Fiesta Conference.
But Barako Bull board representative Raffy Casio was quick to fan out speculations and explain that the Photokina franchise is still being run by George Chua and his group with Romero’s Harbour Centre as co-brand and sponsor.
“We want to make it clear that we’re still running the day-to-day operations of the Barako Bull team in the PBA," Casiao told GMANews.TV. “Harbour Centre came in as sponsor for the Fiesta Conference only. Anything beyond that, we haven’t discussed it yet."
Casiao made the clarification amidst reports that Romero’s group is now calling the shots for the basketball team with the hiring of Junel Baculi, former team consultant of Harbour in the Philippine Basketball League.
Baculi used to be the assistant coach of Burger King, a joint venture among the Lina Group, businessman/sportsman Manny V. Pangilinan and Ricky Vargas, Wilson Young and Romero.
Romero later bolted out of Burger King, but Baculi stayed with the Whopper to become the chief deputy of Guiao.
Aside from Baculi, two members of the Patriots team that won the championship in the ABL are reportedly trying out and will likely be given slots in the team – ex-pro Rob Wainwright and free agent Jerwin Gaco.
But Casiao stressed that it was Barako Bull management which seriously pursued Baculi, who expressed interest in getting both Wainwright and Gaco.
“We were trying to get Junel as early as 2008 at the time coach Yeng (Guiao) left us," confirmed Casiao. “At that time, coach Junel wasn’t available because of his commitment with Burger King. Until coach Leo (Isaac) became available, so we took him in. Now that coach Junel is available, I guess it’s time for us to try his services and hope he can turn things around for our team."
Baculi signed Wednesday after his previous stint in a pocket tournament in Dubai.
Erick Arejola, team manager of the Patriots and Romero’s most trusted lieutenant in basketball affairs, said that their group’s involvement with Barako Bull in the PBA will be plainly as sponsor and as co-brand of the Energy Boosters.
“We will be hands-off in terms of running the team’s affairs. It will be them (Barako Bull management) who will run the show while our involvement is just plainly as sponsor," said Arejola, who also added that they haven’t discussed yet whether they will bid to buy Barako Bull’s franchise after the Fiesta Conference.
Partnership questioned
Several members of the PBA board raised questions on the co-branding rule applied to Barako Bull and Harbour Centre, this after hearing reports that members of the Patriots will join the squad.
“If ever it’s true that members of the Philippine Patriots basketball team are joining Barako Bull, then it means Mikee’s group is now part of the decision making of Barako Bull," said Purefoods governor Rene Pardo. “What we’ve agreed upon is that they will enter as sponsor for the team just for the Fiesta Conference."
Pardo added that if it’s really Romero’s group which is running the affairs, they should let the board know about it.
“If that’s the case, they should apply for regular membership and huwag balewalain yung board," he added.
Ginebra board representative Robert Non doesn’t believe reports about Patriots squad hooking up with Barako Bull until they inform the Office of the Commissioner about their plans.
“Hindi naman siguro totoo yun, and if ever totoo nga, then Commissioner Barrios should send them a memo reminding Barako Bull about what they’ve agreed upon, which is, Barako Bull should be the one operating the basketball team and no member of Harbour’s group should be on the bench of Barako Bull," said Non.
But PBA chairman Lito Alvarez of Air21 Lito Alvarez thinks otherwise.
“Mahirap rin kasi i-prove kung yung grupo nga ni Mikee (Romero) yung nagdala sa Patriots (players) eh. What if George Chua tells us that he’s the one in charge of bringing those members to his team, what can we do?" said Alvarez.
Is Harbour Centre now seizing control of Barako Bull’s franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association?
This question was raised following reports that members of the Philippine Patriots, a team in the Asean Basketball League also bankrolled by Harbour honcho Mikee Romero, will join the Energy Boosters in coming Fiesta Conference.
But Barako Bull board representative Raffy Casio was quick to fan out speculations and explain that the Photokina franchise is still being run by George Chua and his group with Romero’s Harbour Centre as co-brand and sponsor.
“We want to make it clear that we’re still running the day-to-day operations of the Barako Bull team in the PBA," Casiao told GMANews.TV. “Harbour Centre came in as sponsor for the Fiesta Conference only. Anything beyond that, we haven’t discussed it yet."
Casiao made the clarification amidst reports that Romero’s group is now calling the shots for the basketball team with the hiring of Junel Baculi, former team consultant of Harbour in the Philippine Basketball League.
Baculi used to be the assistant coach of Burger King, a joint venture among the Lina Group, businessman/sportsman Manny V. Pangilinan and Ricky Vargas, Wilson Young and Romero.
Romero later bolted out of Burger King, but Baculi stayed with the Whopper to become the chief deputy of Guiao.
Aside from Baculi, two members of the Patriots team that won the championship in the ABL are reportedly trying out and will likely be given slots in the team – ex-pro Rob Wainwright and free agent Jerwin Gaco.
But Casiao stressed that it was Barako Bull management which seriously pursued Baculi, who expressed interest in getting both Wainwright and Gaco.
“We were trying to get Junel as early as 2008 at the time coach Yeng (Guiao) left us," confirmed Casiao. “At that time, coach Junel wasn’t available because of his commitment with Burger King. Until coach Leo (Isaac) became available, so we took him in. Now that coach Junel is available, I guess it’s time for us to try his services and hope he can turn things around for our team."
Baculi signed Wednesday after his previous stint in a pocket tournament in Dubai.
Erick Arejola, team manager of the Patriots and Romero’s most trusted lieutenant in basketball affairs, said that their group’s involvement with Barako Bull in the PBA will be plainly as sponsor and as co-brand of the Energy Boosters.
“We will be hands-off in terms of running the team’s affairs. It will be them (Barako Bull management) who will run the show while our involvement is just plainly as sponsor," said Arejola, who also added that they haven’t discussed yet whether they will bid to buy Barako Bull’s franchise after the Fiesta Conference.
Partnership questioned
Several members of the PBA board raised questions on the co-branding rule applied to Barako Bull and Harbour Centre, this after hearing reports that members of the Patriots will join the squad.
“If ever it’s true that members of the Philippine Patriots basketball team are joining Barako Bull, then it means Mikee’s group is now part of the decision making of Barako Bull," said Purefoods governor Rene Pardo. “What we’ve agreed upon is that they will enter as sponsor for the team just for the Fiesta Conference."
Pardo added that if it’s really Romero’s group which is running the affairs, they should let the board know about it.
“If that’s the case, they should apply for regular membership and huwag balewalain yung board," he added.
Ginebra board representative Robert Non doesn’t believe reports about Patriots squad hooking up with Barako Bull until they inform the Office of the Commissioner about their plans.
“Hindi naman siguro totoo yun, and if ever totoo nga, then Commissioner Barrios should send them a memo reminding Barako Bull about what they’ve agreed upon, which is, Barako Bull should be the one operating the basketball team and no member of Harbour’s group should be on the bench of Barako Bull," said Non.
But PBA chairman Lito Alvarez of Air21 Lito Alvarez thinks otherwise.
“Mahirap rin kasi i-prove kung yung grupo nga ni Mikee (Romero) yung nagdala sa Patriots (players) eh. What if George Chua tells us that he’s the one in charge of bringing those members to his team, what can we do?" said Alvarez.
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