Costly blunder
Early workout costs Sy P100-K His statements and accusations were all serious and we will conduct an investigation
For admitting that his team engaged in premature workouts, Dioceldo Sy is facing a hefty fine, something that widens the rift between him and the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
PBA commissioner Willie Marcial yesterday said he slapped Blackwater with a P100,000 fine after Sy admitted that they had conducted practice sessions ahead of the scheduled date set by the league and the Games and Amusement Board (GAB).
In a statement made to Cignal’s Sports Page, Sy said they have already started their training, but still observed strict health and safety protocols, something that didn’t sit well with the PBA and GAB.
GAB chairman Abraham Mitra stressed that the Elite violated the omnibus guidelines of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases on safety protocols as the training was done a week before the body issued the PBA teams the green light to resume their workouts.
Mitra said they would issue a show cause order to give Sy a chance to explain.
Sy fired back, saying that he lost his “heart” to the league so he is mulling the possibility of selling the franchise for P150 million to interested parties.
But a league insider said selling the franchise is not as easy as it looks. “First, are there any takers? Remember that we are in pandemic and the economy is not doing well. I doubt if there is somebody who is willing to shell out a handsome amount at this point to purchase a PBA franchise,” said the source, adding that the seller – not the PBA — should look for a buyer.
“Second, before the sale would be completed, the buyer has to convince the PBA board that it has the stability and capacity to maintain a professional club. Is it doing well financially? Does it have a stable operation? Those are some of the things that have to be considered.”
“After that, the board will decide if it is ready to welcome a new member. It needs to get the support of two-thirds of the voting members.”
Instead of getting threatened, the PBA slapped Sy with a hefty fine while ordering the Elite to have a swab test and undergo seven-day quarantine to make sure that they are not infected by the coronavirus.
“I hope that the league will not be jeopardized or be placed in danger with what happened,” Marcial told Daily Tribune in a telephone conversation.
“His statements and accusations were all serious and we will conduct an investigation.”
Marcial said as soon as they are done with the probe, he would forward the matter to the PBA board of governors to determine the fate of the embattled team owner, who owns Ever Bilena, Inc.
“After the investigations, I will immediately give to the board of governors my findings and recommendations,” he said.
PBA chairman Ricky Vargas of TNT KaTropa echoed Marcial’s claim, saying that the board will not take Sy’s comments lightly.
Vargas, in particular, was concerned over Sy’s claim that he was being “bullied” and lost “my heart in basketball.”
“He has not officially informed the PBA so it’s best that we wait,” Vargas said, adding that he will call a huddle to discuss the serious matters that Sy uttered in a press statement.
“I’m not doubting the press statement of Mr. Dioceldo Sy when he said that he was being bullied, he will sell the franchise and he lost interest in basketball.”
“These are the matters for the board to talk about.”
Daily Tribune tried, but Elite coach Nash Racela was not available for comment.