Judging by PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial’s confident pronouncements, the much-talked-about sale of the NorthPort Batang Pier to Pureblends Corporation will be consummated in the next few days. In fact, according to the affable commish, it might happen in the next day or three.
“Bago mag-Monday. May mga papeles na lang [na inaayos], pero halos done deal na yun,” said Marcial during the first day of the 2025 PBA Media Day at Elements of Centris.
“By Monday, alam ko tapos na yan. Papers na lang ang pinag-uusapan. Parehong legal nila ang nag-uusap. Pero sa amin (Board), mukhang OK na sa amin.”
Pureblends Gets an Assist from SMC
Murmurs of Pureblends buying NorthPort had been circulating since August, and its entry to the PBA got a big boost in early September when San Miguel Corporation, which is also in the food and beverage business like Pureblends, gave its blessing to the Caloocan-based company.
For the longest time, Asia’s first pay-for-play league has barred competitors to existing franchises from entering the PBA, which meant SMC was a major roadblock to Pureblends completing its purchase of NorthPort. That’s not the case now with Ramon Ang giving way, and it now appears there will, indeed, be a new franchise in the PBA.
Believe It When It Happens
Then again, this is the PBA. Nothing is ever truly set in stone until the PBA makes a formal announcement. A case in point was the supposed sale of Terrafirma Dyip, first to Starhorse Shipping Lines and then to the MPBL’s Zamboanga Valientes. Both times, the league said talks were advancing and that the Dyip were close to getting sold. Obviously, neither happened.
Now, it is Pureblends that’s solely in the spotlight, and it’s looking like its purchase of NorthPort is, as Marcial describes it, a “done deal.” But crazier things have happened with and in the PBA, so unless Marcial himself announces it officially, it might be best not to believe it yet.
But when that announcement is actually made, then the time to speculate about Pureblends’ PBA future—will it be a lackey of SMC or a truly independent franchise?—can finally begin.
