I CAN see the light going green.
We may be seeing Converge ICT Solutions (Converge) in the next PBA season. This, as the league reportedly is set to give its go signal to take over the Alaska franchise as the latter bowed out of the professional league after 35 seasons.
There are news accounts already on the shoo-in. Online news portal Bilyonaryo.com even has details of the sale of Alaska to Converge – P117 million, broken down as P100M for performance bond for the next five years, P7M as deposit and P7M as transfer fee.
The report came out Tuesday, March 22 when the PBA Board was scheduled to hold a meeting.
Looks like the details were lifted directly from the minutes of the PBA Board meeting
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When finally approved, Angeles City billionaire Dennis Uy (known as Tsuk-tsuk, among us locals, for distinction) will be joining his namesake and Davao-based businessman who owns the Phoenix Fuel Masters.
The impending approval erases speculations that Converge may face possible opposition due to corporate rivalry. Under the existing policy of the PBA, a member team can exercise “lockout veto power” against a direct competitor and applicant team.
The current member team can raise objections to the sale of a franchise to a firm coming from the same industry. The sale of a PBA franchise requires two thirds vote from 12 current ballclub owners sitting in the PBA Board.
Converge is a competitor of PLDT whose TnT Tropang Giga has been in the tourney for several years and is now playing in the semi-finals of the on-going season.
But methinks that the group of PLDT (including Meralco Bolts and NLEX Road Warriors) will not bother doing that. Tsuk-tsuk has always been known to be a long-time partner of PLDT Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan in some joint business undertakings.
An insider from one of the MVP ball clubs told this writer that “it is a done deal, OK na yan” in a chit chat.
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Converge has yet to make official its possible stint in the PBA in the next season. In an interview with this writer, Uy said that “the interest is there and we will make announcements in due time.”
As of presstime, the PBA is also expected to make an official announcement anytime soon on sale of the Alaska franchise to Converge.
You see, Dennis, a noble man, grateful and loving nephew that he always is, would like to honor his late uncle Johnny Uy who once dreamt of having a team in the PBA.
Mang Johnny started as a sponsor of many local basketball teams, I was told. The late owner of Johnny’s Supermarket (JS), where Dennis in his younger days worked as stocker and merchandiser, also sponsored a team in the PBA predecessor league – the MICAA in the 1970s.
With Dennis having his Converge team in the PBA soon, Mang Johnny must be smiling in the heavens. This is how Dennis would like to honor the man who helped take care of their own family upon migrating to the Philippines from China.
So, with Converge in the PBA, what would be their possible ballclub nickname?
Converge Pure Fiber would be very apt, I suppose since this company is the frontrunner and leader when it comes to providing fiber internet reach to 10.9 million households.
A “JS” with that grocery cart symbol at the top portion of the back of players’ jerseys (like MPTC is written on NLEX Road Warriors jerseys back) may also subtly state why Dennis and his Converge is in the PBA.
Honoring Uncle Johnny. It will be in many people’s minds as it has always been in Dennis’ heart.