Pureblends PBA team bid on hold, NorthPort keeps control in PBA Rookie Draft

The NorthPort Batang Pier will continue to represent themselves in the upcoming PBA Season 50 Rookie Draft after the league’s board opted to defer approval of Pureblends Corporation’s acquisition bid.

Commissioner Willie Marcial confirmed Wednesday that the sale has yet to be finalized, meaning NorthPort remains the team of record for Sunday’s draft proceedings at the Mall of Asia Music Hall.

“Malamang NorthPort pa rin. Wala pa namang approval ng PBA board,” Marcial said after the meeting in Libis.

Pureblends, a food manufacturing company best known for its baking mixes, had formally expressed its intent to join the league by submitting documents to the PBA review committee. But financial statements and other requirements must first be scrutinized before the proposal can be forwarded for a final vote.

League rules mandate a two-thirds approval from the board for any franchise sale.

“As of now, it’s still NorthPort who’s going to make the selections,” Marcial added, noting he is not privy to the details of negotiations between both parties.

Pureblends Finalizes ₱90M Buyout of NorthPort’s PBA Franchisehttps://t.co/kwKuuPXMNg#PBA #PBA50 pic.twitter.com/bdVIuxEsan

— Sports Buzzer PH (@sportsbuzzerph) September 4, 2025

The Batang Pier, or Pureblends if the takeover eventually pushes through, currently hold the No. 5 pick in the annual draft, which has drawn 128 applicants. The two-day rookie combine tipped off Thursday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

Pureblends has been active in Philippine and regional sports in recent years. The company fields a team in the Pilipinas Super League, sponsors the Ho Chi Minh City Wings of the Vietnam Basketball Association, and recently partnered with Philippines Football League side Mendiola FC 1991, rebranded as Valenzuela PB Mendiola for the season.

Sources say Bryann Calantoc, a former Xavier School standout and UST graduate, is listed as the company’s owner and maintains close ties with NorthPort head coach Bonnie Tan. A former PBA player was also reportedly involved during negotiations, though his future role in the franchise remains unclear.

For its part, NorthPort has carried on with business as usual while awaiting the board’s final decision. The Batang Pier even held tryouts for unrestricted free agents and draft hopefuls earlier this week to prepare for roster building.

Meanwhile, the PBA board is also finalizing plans for its golden anniversary season, which opens October 5. Marcial said discussions on the schedule and activities for the milestone year 

“We hope to settle the matter before the start of the season,” Marcial said, keeping the door open for a possible resolution to the NorthPort-Pureblends deal in the coming weeks.

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