"I was informed early this morning that Jacobs was given a working permit. This finally settles the issue on Jacobs," said San Miguel team manager and concurrent PBA chairman Nazario Avendano, who made the announcement in yesterday's launching of the PBA's 23rd season at the Holiday Inn Manila Pavilion Grand Ballroom.

PBA Commissioner Emilio "Jun" Bernardino expressed optimism that this year would be another banner year for the league. "I believe that the entry of new faces, the movements of player and coaches, including the controversies, will contribute to the success of the league this year," said Bernardino, whose opinion was shared by Avendano.

The 1997 season of the PBA will kick off on Sunday with the All-Filipino Conference at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Defending champion Alaska Milk will be playing against Mobiline in the lone scheduled match at 5:30 p.m.

Games and Amusements Board chair Domingo Cepeda said that he will first consult with the people and associations involved in the issue raised by Basketball Association of the Philippines chair Lito Puyat concerning national teams for international competitions.

"This is not the right forum for me to discuss the issue. I want to be given time to decide on this."

The other day, Puyat sought GAB intervention to force the PBA to allow professional players to represent the country in the coming Asian Basketball Conference championship saying that a victory here would give the country a chance to be represented in the Olympics.

Bernardino, on the other hand, said the PBA is willing to sit down with the BAP and the GAB to discuss the matter. "It came to me as a surprise that this issue on our commitment to the national team is being raised again," said Bernardino. "We already made previous agreement with the BAP that we will take care of the Asian Games. But we are open to discussion."

The BAP has been asking the PBA to allow its players to play for national teams to the Southeast Asian Games and the ABC but this request has been turned down repeatedly.

The main reason, according to Bernanrdino, being that it would disrupt the conduct of PBA games which are held 10 months a year.

Puyat wants the PBA season cut from three conferences to two.

He also wants the GAB to exercise stricter control over the league.

Bernardino also said that EJ Feihl may be sanctioned by the PBA if the 7-1 former Ginebra player signs a contract with the PBL team he intends to join. However, the PBA commssioner said it would be a different matter if Feihl plays for the national team.

"If Feihl will play for the national team, then, I would call that a patriotic act, and I would commend him for doing so," he said.

Bernardino, however, did not elaborate what PBA rule Feihl would violate should he decide to play in the PBL.

Feihl's contract with Ginebra San Miguel, which will now be known as Gordon's Gin, expired at the end of 1996. -JEAN MALANUM