THE PBA Board of Governors yesterday unanimously voted to allow Air21 (formerly Shopinas.com) as the only ball club with rights to engage the services of naturalized player Marcus Douthit as import for the coming Commissioner’s Cup set to kick off on Feb. 10.

Commissioner Chito Salud made the announcement prior to the start of Game Three of the Talk ‘N Text-Powerade championship series.

“After due deliberation, the Board has decided to step aside and allow Air21 to negotiate and engage the services of Marcus Douthit for the second conference,” Salud said.

That decision after a short 90-minute Board meeting was arrived at swiftly since nine teams, except for the Express, have already acquired reinforcements.

Salud, however, pointed out that if ever Air21 and Douthit fail to come to terms, Douthit will be barred from playing for other teams.

Sheila Lina, daughter of Air21 owner Bert Lina and the franchise’s board of governor, conveyed the ball club’s interest in hiring Douthit to Salud.

“Ms. Sheila Lina has expressly stated that yes, they are very much interested in acquiring Douthit,” Salud said.

Douthit is currently in China seeing action in a tournament, and the 6-foot-10 cager wrote in an email sent to the PBA that he will be available, at least, on Feb. 18.

Because of that, Salud admitted that they have adjusted the schedule of Air21.

Douthit’s interest in playing as an import for a team in the Commissioner’s Cup could have been shut close had the Express acquired the services of Malcolm Thomas. Thomas, however, was signed by the San Antonio Spurs.

“Coach Franz (Pumaren) told me that he already thought that they have an import,” Salud said. “But the import they were eyeing to get was suddenly signed up by an NBA team.”