Narvasa has final say on Kia – board

MANILA, Philippines — After a lengthy discussion in an executive session, the PBA board of governors agreed to respect and honor whatever decision league commissioner Chito Narvasa makes in the proposed Kia-San Miguel Beer trade deal involving the top pick in the Rookie Draft on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Phoenix Petroleum management announced that the team has tapped Louie Alas and Topex Robinson to take over from Ariel Vanguardia and Tino Pinat as head coach and assistant coach of the Fuel Masters.

Narvasa is expected to render his decision in the trade deal anytime before the 2017 PBA Rookie Draft where Fil-German center/forward Christian Standhardinger is the top prospect.

In the trade proposal forwarded to the Commissioner’s Office, Kia is willing to give away its prized draft rights for San Miguel’s JayR Reyes, Rashawn McCarthy and Keith Agovida.

New Kia governor Bobby Rosales attended the PBA board meeting yesterday, and reportedly talked lengthily, standing their ground against those who were questioning the soundness of their trade proposal.

Later on, Ramoncito Fernandez, the board vice chairman who presided the meeting, called an executive session among only the board members.

When they called back the commission  to the meeting, the board members said they’ve agreed to respect the decision Narvasa would be making.  

In the other development, Alas will be making a comeback as bench chieftain in the country’s premier league after serving as head coach of the Mobiline Cellulars (now TNT KaTropa) in 2000 to 2001.

“(Alas and Robinson) represent two of the brightest coaching minds in the game today and we feel fortunate that they will be leading the future of our team as well as other basketball related activities,” said Phoenix top official Raymond Zorrilla.

“The management is elated with these changes and are expecting a different Fuel Masters team in terms of attitude, passion, intensity and pride in each game they play,” Zorrilla added.

With Alas’ and Robinson’s transfer to Phoenix, left without top associates is Alex Compton at Alaska Milk.

Alas is the third man to call the shots at Phoenix after Koy Banal and Vanguardia.