Roxas City is the first option of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) to host the season’s All-Star weekend.

Weighing on circumstances, however, the PBA is looking at Bacolod City as an alternative should the capital city of Capiz province decide it is not ready to host the annual league extravaganza.

According to league operations chief Rickie Santos, they are waiting for a call from Capiz to confirm its hosting.

“They [officials from Capiz] told us they will call the office but up to now, wala pa kaming natatangap na tawag. That’s why we’re also considering Bacolod pero wala pa silang firm proposal sa PBA,” said Santos.

San Fernando, La Union and Baguio City cohosted the event last year with the North All-Stars beating their Southern counterparts, 145-142. Barangay Ginebra’s Jayjay Helterbrand and Alaska’s Willie Miller were adjudged co-MVPs.

Previous hosts from the south include Cebu and Cagayan de Oro.

Meanwhile, the bidding for the league’s television coveror for the 2008-’09 season has yet to start after PBA officer-in-charge Sonny Barrios said he would rather wait for a new commissioner to be named first.

“Personally, gusto ko talaga magkaroon na ng bagong commissioner bago mag-start ang bidding because the truth is, I prefer the new commissioner to be the point person on this matter dahil malaking kontrata ang nakataya dito,” Barrios said in a separate interview

The league set January 31 as the deadline for the submission of letters of intent to join the bidding which will happen next month.

“Kaya sana mayroon nang mapili ang board para maayos din naman ang transition ng responsibilities to the new commissioner. I want the new commissioner to take over here,” Barrios added. The board is expected to announce the new commissioner Thursday.

ABC 5’s three-year contract with the PBA will expire at the end of the season on July and officials from the network said that they are confident that they will continue to officially cover the games.

Another prospective bidder is Solar Sports.

Men’s tennis finalists prove no match vs. foes on opening day

DEFENDING champion University of Santo Tomas (UST) and runner-up University of the Philippines (UP) trounced separate rivals Sunday afternoon in the opening day of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 70 men’s tennis tournament at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

John-James Tigers combo too much to handle for Maroons

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas (UST) continued its stranglehold of the top spot with an easy 25-19, 26-24, 25-19 over University of the Philippines (UP) Saturday in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s volleyball tournament at the Blue Eagle Gym.

ADAMSON University spoiled the debut of basketball ace Kirk Long in another sport, beating Ateneo, 8-3, Sunday in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines baseball tournament at the Rizal Memorial Ballpark.

Roxas City is the first option of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) to host the season’s All-Star weekend.

FRANCISCO “DJANGO” BUSTAMANTE could not complete a two-game sweep of German Ralf Souquet and finished second in the 9-Ball finals, but just the same, the former No. 1 is going home as the 2008 Master of the Table from the 2008 Derby City Classic that ended yesterday at the Executive West Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky.

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) announced yesterday the lifting of the temporary ban on the importation of horses from Australia.

OUR good Australian friend Peter Morrison wrote me about an American racing fan who had watched races in Manila lately and commented on how horses were kept waiting for so long at the back of the gate before the race is started.