The War: TnT, Asi vs Kings, fans
January 30, 2005 | 12:00am
Barangay Ginebra and Talk n Text start their colossal battle for the Gran Matador PBA Philippine Cup championship ironically on the day the legal tussle between the league and Talk n Text behemoth Asi Taulava could hit breaking point today at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Taulava case looms large in the title playoff as the Talk n Text squad appears hell-bent on fielding in the alleged "Fil-sham" despite the PBA board’s decision to keep its indefinite suspension on the player pending the final resolution of their case in the Quezon City Regional Trial Court.
Taulava’s lawyer Eduardo Francisco stressed that the QC RTC order for the PBA to reinstate Taulava "effective immediately" in the current PBA All-Filipino Conference even retroacts to the date of Taulava’s suspension on Oct. 19, 2004.
Talk n Text board representative Ricky Vargas, meanwhile, confirmed that Taulava will suit up for the start of the Ginebra-Talk n Text best-of-seven titular series at 6:30 p.m. today.
PBA commissioner Noli Eala called the Taulava case "a dangerous precedent."
"As it is, even my Compañero Atty. Eduardo Francisco is already acting as the commissioner of the league as he has already given the go-signal for Taulava to play. How can a third party be allowed to do that?" said Eala.
"In filing our motion for reconsideration, the PBA’s intention is to stand up for the truth and take legal steps to protect 30 years of tradition. As a private sports organization, it’s a well-established practice that the PBA makes its own decision particularly as to who can and who can’t play in the league. Never in the history of the PBA has a third party intervened in this authority," Eala added.
Earlier, the league commissioner warned "the position of Talk n Text to suit up Mr. Taulava in the championship will be dealt with under PBA rules at the appropriate time."
This means Taulava would not be barred from suiting up or even playing, but the PBA would later impose a severe sanction on Talk n Text in violation of a league decision.
"There’s a precedent in this case," said Eala, probably referring to Tanduay’s case involving their Fil-Ams where the ball club incurred a hefty fine.
Also yesterday, Taulava’s lawyer chided Department of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez for egging on the PBA not to follow the writ, saying "a justice secretary should not in any way undermine the very processes of our justice system."
"Secretary Gonzalez asked why I did not implead him in the Quezon City case. Why would I when what we were contesting in Quezon City was the PBA’s suspension of Asi. Why would I implead the secretary in Quezon City when we have a case against the DOJ and the Bureau of Immigration at the Manila RTC? Had I done so, we would have been accused of forum shopping," said Francisco.
Despite the impending return of Taulava, the Gin Kings, however, are unfazed, confident they can hold their own against coach Joel Banal and his Pals, and have a good shot at two consecutive titles and a sixth crown in all in the franchise history.
"If Asi plays, he plays and we just have to deal with it. We have Eric (Menk) and Romel (Adducul) to take care of him," said Ginebra coach Siot Tanquingcen.
"It doesn’t matter (if Asi plays). I’m gonna go out there. We’ve topped the eliminations and proven ourselves in the semis. We’ll do it again in the finals," said Menk.
"I know for sure we gonna win this. Hindi ko sinasabi na madadalian kami sa kanila (Phone Pals) pero siguro mas mahirap kalaban ang San Miguel because of their experience and discipline," said Mark Caguioa.
Tanquingcen thinks it could become a battle between Talk n Text’s backcourt and Ginebra’s frontcourt.
"They have the best backcourt in the league right now. They have good guards in Willie Miller and Jimmy Alapag. Kami naman day-to-day pa ang status ni Jayjay (Helterbrand). But we have the steadiest frontcourt in the league," said Tanquingcen.
Helterbrand is a doubtful starter due to a calf muscle injury he suffered in a collision with Olsen Racela in Game Four of the Ginebra-San Miguel semis series. It’s the same injury that sidelined Sta. Lucia’s Kenneth Duremdes for nearly a year.
The ace Ginebra guard, a cinch for the RP training pool, averages 11.5 points and 6.7 assists.
The Taulava case looms large in the title playoff as the Talk n Text squad appears hell-bent on fielding in the alleged "Fil-sham" despite the PBA board’s decision to keep its indefinite suspension on the player pending the final resolution of their case in the Quezon City Regional Trial Court.
Taulava’s lawyer Eduardo Francisco stressed that the QC RTC order for the PBA to reinstate Taulava "effective immediately" in the current PBA All-Filipino Conference even retroacts to the date of Taulava’s suspension on Oct. 19, 2004.
Talk n Text board representative Ricky Vargas, meanwhile, confirmed that Taulava will suit up for the start of the Ginebra-Talk n Text best-of-seven titular series at 6:30 p.m. today.
PBA commissioner Noli Eala called the Taulava case "a dangerous precedent."
"As it is, even my Compañero Atty. Eduardo Francisco is already acting as the commissioner of the league as he has already given the go-signal for Taulava to play. How can a third party be allowed to do that?" said Eala.
"In filing our motion for reconsideration, the PBA’s intention is to stand up for the truth and take legal steps to protect 30 years of tradition. As a private sports organization, it’s a well-established practice that the PBA makes its own decision particularly as to who can and who can’t play in the league. Never in the history of the PBA has a third party intervened in this authority," Eala added.
Earlier, the league commissioner warned "the position of Talk n Text to suit up Mr. Taulava in the championship will be dealt with under PBA rules at the appropriate time."
This means Taulava would not be barred from suiting up or even playing, but the PBA would later impose a severe sanction on Talk n Text in violation of a league decision.
"There’s a precedent in this case," said Eala, probably referring to Tanduay’s case involving their Fil-Ams where the ball club incurred a hefty fine.
Also yesterday, Taulava’s lawyer chided Department of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez for egging on the PBA not to follow the writ, saying "a justice secretary should not in any way undermine the very processes of our justice system."
"Secretary Gonzalez asked why I did not implead him in the Quezon City case. Why would I when what we were contesting in Quezon City was the PBA’s suspension of Asi. Why would I implead the secretary in Quezon City when we have a case against the DOJ and the Bureau of Immigration at the Manila RTC? Had I done so, we would have been accused of forum shopping," said Francisco.
Despite the impending return of Taulava, the Gin Kings, however, are unfazed, confident they can hold their own against coach Joel Banal and his Pals, and have a good shot at two consecutive titles and a sixth crown in all in the franchise history.
"If Asi plays, he plays and we just have to deal with it. We have Eric (Menk) and Romel (Adducul) to take care of him," said Ginebra coach Siot Tanquingcen.
"It doesn’t matter (if Asi plays). I’m gonna go out there. We’ve topped the eliminations and proven ourselves in the semis. We’ll do it again in the finals," said Menk.
"I know for sure we gonna win this. Hindi ko sinasabi na madadalian kami sa kanila (Phone Pals) pero siguro mas mahirap kalaban ang San Miguel because of their experience and discipline," said Mark Caguioa.
Tanquingcen thinks it could become a battle between Talk n Text’s backcourt and Ginebra’s frontcourt.
"They have the best backcourt in the league right now. They have good guards in Willie Miller and Jimmy Alapag. Kami naman day-to-day pa ang status ni Jayjay (Helterbrand). But we have the steadiest frontcourt in the league," said Tanquingcen.
Helterbrand is a doubtful starter due to a calf muscle injury he suffered in a collision with Olsen Racela in Game Four of the Ginebra-San Miguel semis series. It’s the same injury that sidelined Sta. Lucia’s Kenneth Duremdes for nearly a year.
The ace Ginebra guard, a cinch for the RP training pool, averages 11.5 points and 6.7 assists.
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