Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 24) – Former PBA commissioner Chito Salud is set to return to the country’s premier basketball league next season.
Salud faced reporters in a press conference on Wednesday as the designated team governor of new PBA team Converge ICT Solutions Inc.
RELATED: Converge enters PBA after buying Alaska franchise
In an interview with CNN Philippines’ Sports Desk on Thursday, Salud shared how he was approached by Converge founder Dennis Anthony Uy and his wife Grace to form the new PBA team.
“Dennis and I go a long way back when he was still starting this empire and I saw him grow – him and Grace together. They built Converge and when he called me and expressed his interest in taking over the Alaska franchise, I was only too willing to help and pave the way for him to get in,” Salud said.
The Uy couple’s acquisition of Converge from Alaska was unanimously approved by all the 11 directors of the PBA Board, league commissioner Willie Marcial divulged during the Wednesday press conference.
Salud said the Uys are very much elated in their foray into the huge local basketball scene, as their business rivals from the Manny Pangilinan-led group also agreed to the sale. The MVP Group owns PLDT, also an Internet service provider like Converge.
He added that Grace Uy has been supervising their marketing team to research the team monicker for Converge.
“They (The Uy couple) are so elated with the warmth that MVP (Pangilinan) accepted Converge’s acquisition. For them, that was a remarkable sporting spirit displayed by MVP and to them, he is a true ambassador of the sport with that sporting gesture,” the former PBA commissioner said.
Salud added the Uys have yet to return from their overseas trip, but assured they will tackle the players and coaches’ contract renewals upon the tech firm founders’ arrival.
For now, Converge will inherit three players from Alaska with existing contracts, including top scorer Jeron Teng.
“They think that Jeron will be the face of Converge in the future and we’re looking forward to having a strong, strong relationship with Jeron,” Salud said.
The former PBA commissioner, who held the position from 2010 to 2015, also revealed the Converge team will also keep Aces head coach Jeff Cariaso in his post.
“I really want to know what his plans are, what his basketball program is for Converge. You know the Converge management is a hands on management; that’s the style of Converge,” said Salud, who also bared they will meet with the former Aces players and coaches on Thursday.
Converge will formally launch its PBA campaign in a press conference on April 5.
