MONEY SCANDAL ROCKS METROBALL
Manila, August 1, 1998 - Owners of all the 12 teams of the Metropolitan Basketball Association are locked in a big fight with Metroball, franchise owner of the league, over money matters involving financial support and shares of gate receipts.
"We paid out almost P30 million for our franchise fee when we started. We were promised shares of gate receipts even before the league started, but we have yet to receive a single centavo from Metroball," said on MBA team owner.
Huge expenditures for team owners include P12 million a month in salaries of players and other operational expenses, such as travels to the Southern Philippines for Luzon-based teams and travels to Luzon for the teams based in Visayas-Mindanao.
The 12 team owners are Tim Orbos of Pangasinan Presidents, Robert Puckett of Iloilo Volts, Santi Araneta of Batangas Blades, Pilar de Ayala of Negros Slashers, Mike Toledo of Pasig Blue Pirates, Jose Miguel A. Chuidian of Manila Metrostars, Eric Canoy of Cagayan de Oro Nuggets, Anthony del Rosario of Davao Eagles, Jose Antonio S. Gonzales II of Pampanga Dragons, Jean Henri Lhuillier of Cebu Gems, Ruben D. Solon of Socsargen Marlins and Alberto Lina of Laguna Lakers.
The MBA is composed of three major factions--the 12 team owners, Metroball and ABS-CBN Channel 2. According to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the 12 team owners had no working relations with Channel 2 but in the recent team owner-Metroball confrontations that rocked the league, the 12 teams owners seemed to have forged an alliance with Channel 2. Left out in the cold, seemingly, is Metroball.
''We are the products here but we have not been given any share from the proceeds of the league,'' said the MBA official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. ''Metroball has been running the league, but then, how about the returns due us? We are spending and spending, but it is Metroball which has been reaping and reaping the dividends.''
Metroball had reportedly a capitalization of only P1 million. But shares have risen to P100,000 each share.
Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 1998 by PHILIPPINE
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