Site of the proposed coliseum the PBA is planning to build.
Like some modern-day archeologists, PBA chairman Rene Pardo has dug up a visionary gem from the past, crystallized during the time of chairman Ricky Vargas but which has lost its sheen through the years and laid buried until now.
“Oh yes, we’re reviving the PBA’s long-ago dream of having its own coliseum, a permanent home it can call its own,” said Pardo, representative of B-Meg Derby Ace to the Board of Governors.
“And we want it built in the EDSA Central Complex on Shaw Boulevard because of its strategic location and proximity to the MRT station.”
The league had tossed around the idea of building its own venue from as far back as the PBA commissionership of Rodrigo ‘Rudy’ Salud, father of current PBA deputy commissioner Chito Salud.
And the concept gained momentum when Talk ‘N Text governor Ricky Vargas assumed the chairmanship in 2007.
“We’ve had a meeting three weeks ago with people from the Greenfield Development Corporation, and another yesterday,” Pardo said shortly Friday before the Llamados went up against the San Miguel Beermen in Game 2 of their Fiesta Cup semifinal series at the Araneta Coliseum.
“I’m sure a series of meetings will follow, and by then the PBA hopes to bring with it a group knowledgeable in finance, construction and development to actually discuss details of the project.”
With Pardo during their first meeting were Buddy Encarnado of Sta. Lucia Realty, the man directly acquainted with the Greenfield executives – chairman Jeffrey Campos of Unilab and executive vice president and general manager Atty. Duane Santos – Atty. Mert Mondragon, PBA vice chairman from Rain or Shine, Atty. Manny Mendoza of Barako Bull, and JB Baylon of Coca-Cola.
“Si Buddy ang point guard namin dito, siya ang in charge,” said Pardo, who said he is just picking up from where Vargas had left off. “Carry on lang ‘to from the initial PBA coliseum dream of chairman Ricky Vargas,” said Pardo, who assumed the post after Air21’s Lito Alvarez, who should have been chairman until the end of the 35th season, was appointed by President Aquino to the commissionership of the Bureau of Customs.
During the tenure of Vargas, a site occupied by the Manila Seedling Bank at the corner of EDSA and Quezon Avenue was visited by the PBA as a potential location, with telecommunications tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan, the Talk ‘N Text team owner, expressing preference for the area.
But events overtook the plan and the project was shelved where it gathered dust but was apparently not forgotten.
“It is a dream of every PBA chairman,” said Pardo. “And it will be wishful thinking on my part if the groundbreaking takes place under my term.”
The sprawling EDSA Central area is up for grand development, Pardo said, with high-rise buildings and malls to be put up.
“I think they are very interested at the prospect of having the PBA there because of the crowd it will bring to the area,” Pardo said of the Greenfield developers.
“And we also feel it’s a good site because of the ample parking space and the proximity to the MRT station. But, of course, marami pang idi-discuss like whether it will be a joint venture or they will lease the property to us and we will put it up. Basta ngayon, buhay na naman yung plano.”
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