Harbour Centre, a dynasty in the amateur basketball ranks, is now in the Philippine Basketball Association – as co-sponsor of Barako Bull for the PBA Fiesta Conference.

PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios made this clarification to GMANews.TV that the company owned by businessman/sportsman Mikee Romero was allowed by the PBA board as co-sponsor "only for the Fiesta Conference."
Sonny Barrios

"What applies to Barako Bull is the co-branding rule. If you will notice, Air21 has been using this privilege with its Mail & More company being put up at the back of their jerseys. In the case of Barako Bull having a non-company member as sponsor, it was allowed by the board that Harbour be their co-brand sponsor only for the Fiesta Conference."

But Commissioner Barrios also clarified that Harbour Centre will only be a mere co-sponsor of the team and will not have anything to do in terms of the team’s basketball operating.

“They’re just the billboard advertiser, so to speak," said Barrios. “Harbour Centre officials won’t be allowed to sit on the bench during game time and the operations will still be under the Barako Bull group, which is our regular PBA member."

Barako Bull has been feeling the financial pinch for the past few years now. The team has unloaded its marquee players one by one the past three years that include Enrico Villanueva, Cyrus Baguio, Mick Pennisi, Celino Cruz, Lordy Tugade and Junthy Valenzuela.

For his part, Romero sees this as an opportunity in his ambitious bid to join the pro league. Harbour Centre has been knocking on the PBA door as early as 2006 when it tried to purchase the Pilipinas Shell franchise. Unfortunately, the negotiations bogged down at the last minute and Asian Coatings, which is the mother company of Welcoat Paints, took over the franchise.

“We’re making baby steps towards our ambition of entering the PBA," said Romero. “George Chua of Barako Bull approached me and told me if I can be a co-sponsor for the team in the Fiesta Conference and I said yes."

“I’m so excited to be back in the PBA. After this conference, sana mag-usap ulit kami ni George and I do hope this will be a step further to my ambition of becoming a regular member," he added.

Not the first time

About 27 years ago, cashed-strapped teams like Gallerie Dominique of former Senator Nikki Coseteng and Sanyu got the much needed aid from fellow PBA member squads.

Gallerie Dominique, one of the PBA’s founding members, was owned by Nikki’s father, Emerson Coseteng, who was the founding president of the league.

According to basketball historian Atty. Percival Flores of MYPBA website, Gallerie Domique and Sanyu were having financial difficulties in 1983 and teams such as Winston Kings, Manhattan Shirts and Sunkist were able to help out their fellow PBA member.

“Galleria Dominique at that time was even known as the Gallerie Domique Artistas because it was sponsored by Artista Magazine, a popular entertainment magazine at that time," said Flores. “Then Winston Kings, Manhattan Shirts and Sunkist also helped Sanyu, which was having financial trouble as well."

Source: GMANews.TV

good news for the barako bulls...kahit papano may financial back up na cla

could this mean na papasok na ang harbor sa pba? kase pede nila palitan ung name ng barako bull

I wish nga matupad ang dream ni mikee romero to have a team in the PBA, I wanna see Harbour played in the PBA next season, Barako Bull isnt even in the market.

1 conferens lng cla.. kung maganda record bka magtagal cla sa PBA..