I don’t know about you but at the rate basketball fanatics are expressing their negative appreciation of issues affecting the pro league, a scary implosion could result.
Implosion means a sudden collapse or failure of an organization or system that is violently occuring inward or within.
Some columns back, this scribbler mentioned “team balancing” as a major concern decades back when Asia’s first professional league was just in its infancy.
As you will recall, only two teams then – Crispa and Toyota – were hogging the limelight and took turns in capturing one conference title after another.
Modesty aside, when I was actively physically covering the PBA in its struggling years, I got news straight from the horse’s mouth – as in scoop – before the same was published the next day.
Several coaches and team managers confide to me what is going on within and even the Commissioner’s office trusted
the undersigned with sensitive information.
Without grabbing credit, I had been able to establish my credibility as someone very much interested in promoting and propagating the PBA and (would like to believe) that my small efforts contributed to what the pro league has achieved today.
So much that the recent statements of returning Rain Or Shine mentor Yeng Guiao (whose rise to coaching prominence the undersigned personally witnessed in the 90s) calling the PBA moguls to implement and obey the rules fairly as far as trade and player swaps are concerned, evoke a fearful, slow yet sure descent into implosion – or disintegration if you will.
What if the independent ball clubs move out and stop participating?
(What if these independent teams break away and form their own league? I pray they don’t.)
That would leave only six teams that belong to just two blocs – the RSA (San Miguel Corp) and the MVP groups.
Well, assuming they decide to continue with just six members, they still can but only for a time.
Why?
Because eventually fans’ support – the most important ingredient that helped the PBA survive all these years – will wander away and wane.
It appears that sentiments of netizens are being taken for granted by the PBA board because trades and player swaps that are going on only benefit – as Guiao declared – only sister teams.
This is bad – as bad as can be.
Guiao’s message speaks volumes.
Fair and just trades. (Email feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!
