REY C. LACHICA

PARIS, France – PBA Chairman Ricky Vargas is hoping to resolve the ‘governorship’ issue of Converge in a cordial manner the soonest possible as the league prepares for its coming season.

If and when it happens, the amiable TNT governor suggested that he would like to meet Converge owner Dennis Uy at the PBA office in Libis, Quezon City.

“I still don’t know when I am going to meet him, but it must at the PBA office with the presence of Commissioner (Willie) Marcial,” Vargas.

It must be recalled that early this month, the league thumbed down the appointment of Dennis Pineda as the team governor, citing his involvement in politics being the governor of Pampanga.

In a statement, Converge regretted the decision of the PBA Board, believing Pineda, a die-hard PBA fan before becoming a manager and coach of several teams in his province, can contribute to the continued development of the league.

According to Uy, Pineda has new and fresh ideas that would make the league’s competition better and stronger.

Pineda was recommended to the PBA Board following the resignation of team governor and former PBA commissioner Atty. Chito Salud.

With the governorship issue still hanging, Converge appointed Archen Cayabyab as the team’s new alternate governor which the PBA Board approved with nary a murmur.

Meantime, the league opens its 48^th season on October 15 – just weeks after the final of the FIBA World Cup which the country will be co-hosting with Japan and Indonesia.

The PBA governors will go home from its annual planning in this lovely French capital this week with happy thoughts after the league earned more or less P200 million last season at the end of Marcial’s fifth season.

Thanks to the presence of the Hong Kong-based Bay Area, the league also made impressive mark in television reach in the Governors’ Cup Finals that saw the Ginebra Kings slay the Bay Area Dragons.