TANDUAY ENTERS PBA IN 1999

Manila, Nov. 27, 1997 - The Philippine Basketball Association notified Tanduay Gold Rhum yesterday that it could not be admitted in the 1998 season as requested, and will have to wait until 1999.

The Rhum Masters won three championships, from 1986 to 1987, when the franchise (and the Tanduay distillery) was owned by the Elizaldes. It applied for membership last year, becoming the only team being considered for the league's first expansion since 1990.

Expansion is favored by PBA teams, such as Pop Cola, which joined the PBA along with Pepsi in 1990.

Pop Cola team manager Elmer Yanga said "Times have changed and we have to expand, even if it means less exposure for the other teams. I think that the league will reap the benefits in the long run."