Henkel-Sista bows out of PBL

Philippine StarWednesday, August 29, 2007Henkel-Sista has decided to disband following a pair of fruitless campaigns in the Philippine Basketball League while another team is reportedly following suit two months before the next PBL tournament.“Yes, Henkel-Sista is no longer in the PBL,” Henkel team manager Boy Lapid told The STAR yesterday“We’re now looking for another company who wants to play in the PBL,” he added.However, Lapid said no one seems to be interested on the Welcoat franchise.Meanwhile, a source said Cebuana Lhuillier-Pera Padala isn’t keen on returning to the league next conference after dishing out a breakthrough finals appearance early this year.The Moneymen, a guest team, were eventually swept by three-peat champion Harbour Centre.Butch Maniego, executive assistant to commissioner Chino Trinidad, has neither confirmed nor denied these reports but said the league has yet to ask teams if they’re interested to join next conference.“We haven’t started asking teams to join the PBL next conference,” Maniego said.Burger King, on the other hand, has confirmed its participation in the next conference although it remained undecided on what brand to use as the team’s name.Without Henkel and Cebuana Lhuillier, the league will be left with just a handful of teams including Harbour Centre, Hapee Toothpaste, Burger King and Magnolia Juice Drink. – Joey Villar