The Zamboanga Valientes was reportedly in talks right now with top management of Terrafirma and close to acquiring the latter's PBA franchise. This was confirmed by Valientes team owner Junnie Navarro to SPIN.ph.
"We’ve already met with Terrafirma and it’s almost a done deal," said Navarro about the ongoing negotiations with the Dyip management led by team governor Bobby Rosales.
Navarro also visited the PBA office recently accompanied by Rosales to meet with Commissioner Willie Marcial.
Joining Navarro were his mother, Kings Asia Pacific President Cory Navarro, and Crewsharp CEO Trevor Crewe, who is expected to form the conglomerate that will back the Valientes team.
Marcial, however, declined to comment on whether the Zamboanga-based group is eyeing the Terrafirma franchise, another PBA team, or a new franchise.
Marcial said he had a talk with Universal Canning’s Tippy Kaw about the firm’s interest to become part of the PBA family, which actually dates back to as far as 14 years ago.
The Valientes lately have been active in competing in various local and international tournaments beginning in 2023 in the ASEAN Basketball League that saw the team tapped former NBA champion Mario Chalmers as import.
During last year’s grand finals of The Asian Tournament, the Valientes were reinforced by four-time NBA All-Star and Olympic gold medalist DeMarcus Cousins as they went their way to win the championship.
Early this year, the team competed as one of two Filipino entries in the 34th Dubai International Basketball Tournament and later, bagged the title in the 3rd Gov. Ann Hoffer Invitational Basketball Tournament in Zamboanga Sibugay behind a roster backstopped by former San Miguel teammates Vic Manuel and Kyt Jimenez, hulking import Sam Deguara, former UAAP MVP Malick Diouf, University of Santo Tomas star Forthsky Padrigao, and ex-PBA player Mike Tolomia.
No comments:
Post a Comment