FOUR NEW TEAMS JOIN MBA
Clark Field, Pampanga, Oct. 23, 1998 - Metropolitan Basketball Association owners have agreed to accept four new teams in 1999 and raise the annual team salary cap from P7 to P8.5 million.
In a meeting by MBA officials, team owners and ABS-CBN, the league unanimously agreed to accept four expansion teams for next season, which is set to start on the third week of January in Cebu, to coincide with the Sinulog Festival in Cebu.
Of the 40 teams reported to be interested in joining the community-based league, only San Juan, Surigao, Nueva Ecija and Ilocos Norte are reportedly being seriously considered.
The San Juan team is supported by Mayor Jinggoy Estrada, while the three others are likewise backstopped by prominent clans involved in politics and business.
In the same meeting, team owners and officials agreed to raise the annual team salary cap to P8.5 million although some team owners are still trying to jack it up to P10 million.
"It was a unanimous decision to increase the salary cap to P8.5 million, with several owners trying to raise it to P10 million. This move was made because we want more marquee players from college and the provinces to join and increase the competitiveness of each team," said Gonzalez.
Several MBA teams are reportedly set to acquire top cagers from the PBL and the PBA at the end of the year.
MBA commissioner Ramon Fernandez said that each team will be limited to only two Fil-Americans beginning next year to give more opportunities to home-grown talents.
Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi
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