http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?...s5_july31_2009
Smart Gilas wants to help Barako Bull
FORMER Philippine Basketball Association chairman Ricky Vargas said his “off the cuff” offer to the PBA board of governors to help tide over the problems faced by Red Bull Barako due to the financial difficulties of the Photokina franchise was made in good faith and in response to an appeal by Buddy Encarnado of Sta. Lucia Realty that the league should help teams in trouble.
The creative solution broached by Vargas was for the Smart Gilas national team, coached by Rakjo Toroman, to take the place of Red Bull for the forthcoming season. And since co-branding has been approved, he suggested that the league allow the Barako Bull logo to be placed on the back of the Smart Gilas team jerseys.
In this way, Photokina would not have to spend on maintaining a team until it hopefully recovers from its present predicament where the salaries of players and the coaching staff have been in arrears. “This will not merely help Red Bull, more importantly it will help the PBA,” said Vargas. “This is because Smart Gilas will be a competitive team out to win and since it will represent the Philippines in next year’s London Olympic qualifier will be an attraction.”
Vargas said that if this is not feasible. at least he tried to find a solution to a situation that is bound to hurt the league which often prides itself on the competitive balance of its teams.
Under the proposal, all Smart Gilas games will be counted just as they were when the Northern Consolidated team played as a guest team in the PBA and ended its stint by winning the import reinforced conference, sweeping Manila Beer, anchored by Michael Young and Harold Keeling in 1985. Ronnie Nathanielsz