MANILA — The ongoing issue regarding Chito Narvasa’s stint as PBA commissioner did not stop the “minority bloc” of the league’s board of governors from lending its players to Gilas for the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers (WCQ).
“We believe that (the lending of our players) should not be adversely affected by the board members’ differences in opinions,” the so-called “PBA 5” said in a statement on Friday.
The development means that San Miguel, Ginebra, Star, Kia, and GlobalPort, the five teams making up the “minority” are willing to make their key players available for the national team campaign.
Friday also turned out to be the first day of practice for Gilas’ WCQ campaign, and three players from the “minority” graced the session at the Meralco Gym in Pasig, proving that the “PBA 5” are true to their word.
Four-time MVP Junemar Fajardo of the Beermen, Barangay Ginebra’s high-flying big man Japeth Aguilar, and the Hotshots’ rising star point guard Jio Jalalon attended the training.
A total of 13 players came, with the other 10 coming from five of the seven clubs whose respective governors agreed not to renew Narvasa’s term by another season, eventually sparking the impasse.
TNT’s Jayson Castro, Troy Rosario, and RR Pogoy, Blackwater’s Allein Maliksi and Mac Belo, Rain or Shine’s Gabe Norwood and Raymond Almazan, Alaska’s Calvin Abueva and Carl Cruz, and Phoenix’s Matt Wright made up the other players present in practice.
Jalalon was given a rest as he is recovering from an LCL injury. (PNA)
