The PBA Commissioner’s Office has decided that Talk ‘N Text and Burger King cannot engage in the direct trading of players.

PBA Commissioner Sonny Barrios told www.insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports that “direct trading between Talk ‘N Text and Burger King will be covered by the same rules of the three San Miguel Corporation teams”, Barangay Ginebra, Purefoods and San Miguel Beer.

Barrios said that Burger King board representative Lito Alvarez had “volunteered” to have Burger King covered by the same restrictions imposed on the SMC teams as “a sign of good faith” since there was “common ownership” in both teams with Manny Pangilinan and Ricky Vargas of PLDT-Smart having investments in Burger King.

Barrios said his office had “put it down in black and white” following the approval of a change in the ownership of Air 21 which triggered the change of name to Burger King with Air 21 franchise holder Bert Lina maintaining a 60 percent majority ownership of Burger King.

Barrios said the other PBA teams “naturally welcomed the move.”

The direct trading restrictions came amidst reports that Talk ‘N Text was keen on getting Arwind Santos, an outstanding player not just on the Burger King squad but in coach Yeng Guiao’s Philippine National Team which could now only be done with a third team serving as a conduit.

However, it is unlikely that Team Manager Mikee Romero and coach Guiao will agree to trade one of their prized possessions to Talk ‘N Text although finding a third team as conduit for a trade isn’t a problem as clearly evidenced in past trades involving the San Miguel Corporation teams.


http://insidesports.ph/basketball/talk%E2%80%99-n-text-%E2%80%93-burger-king-cannot-trade-directly/