FILE – PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial.
ANTIPOLO—The maker of two familiar sardine brands has expressed interest in joining the PBA, commissioner Willie Marcial confirmed on Sunday.
Marcial said Universal Canning Inc. made its intentions known throughout the league’s visit to Zamboanga City where Magnolia and Phoenix met in a Philippine Cup out-of-town game the previous night.
READ: Three corporations now loom as buyers of Terrafirma PBA franchise
Universal Canning Inc., owned by the Kaw family led by its matriarch Anita, manufactures Master Sardines and Family’s Brand Sardines, has been energetic on the basketball scene lately.
“They’d intentions of joining the PBA up to now, but we had a lengthy talk with Tippy [Kaw’s son]. We’ll see but they may join,” Marcial said in Filipino during Sunday’s doubleheader at Ynares Center here.
Marcial didn’t give further details, nor did he confirm if Universal Canning is one in every of three corporations inquisitive about taking up the Terrafirma franchise after its initial cope with Starhorse collapsed as a consequence of financial reasons.
Universal Canning had previously sponsored the Zamboanga team playing the MPBL using the Family’s Brand name. It also backed Bacolod for a temporary period in the identical regional league.
The sardine company was also energetic within the 3×3 scene when it formed the Zamboanga team within the Chooks-to-Go 3×3 in 2020 with current PBA players Joshua Munzon, Santi Santillan and Alvin Pasaol.
It also formed a team within the PBA 3×3 using the Master Sardines brand in 2022.
