Some members of the PBA Motoclub expressed their dismay over unfair trades and the farm team system that has caused fans to lose interest in the PBA.
Former PBA players Rico Maierhofer, Mac Cardona, Jayjay Helterbrand, Jerwin Gaco, and KG Canaleta uploaded a vlog on YouTube recently where they gave their opinion on the declining prestige of the PBA, brought about by unfair trades and farm teams.
All of them agreed that having farm teams created an imbalance in the strength of PBA squads.
“Para sa kin ah, dapat wala ng farm team. Para siyempre maganda ‘yung kompetensya ng basketball ‘di ba,” Gaco said. “Tsaka dapat mas maraming team sa PBA para maraming opportunity ‘yung ibang players na makapaglaro.”
“Parang nagiging unfair sa ibang team, kung ‘yung ibang companies mayroon silang farm team. Kawawa naman ‘yung mga independent team, na walang sister team. Kaya para sa ‘kin ‘di maganda na mayroong farm team,” Canaleta said.
Helterbrand reminisced about the time when a less popular team like Air21 even made it to the finals.
“Wala ng thrill kasi ‘yung PBA. ‘Di katulad dati ‘yung time na tayo naglalaro, even before, pantay-pantay. Dati ‘yung Air21 pumasok ng finals. Ngayon, alam mo na kung sino papasok ng finals, apat lang ‘yan. Alam niyo na kung sino,” the former Ginebra guard said.
Meanwhile, Cardona dropped names, which their editor removed from the uploaded video.
“Syempre hindi (pabor sa farm team), parang nakokontrol nila ano eh, ‘pag may ganon,” Cardona commented.
“Gusto ko i-balance lahat ng team. Gusto ko pantay-pantay ‘yung lakas,” Maierhofer added.
Helterbrand warned that not just the fans but also the next generation of players would lose interest in the PBA if its higher authorities failed to address the unfair trades and farm teams.
“Pag ‘di nila naayos ang PBA, aalis nang aalis ‘yung mga player. Pupunta sa Japan, sa Korea,” the former MVP said.
Last week, PBA commissioner Willie Marcial announced that the league is considering expansion.
“We can do up to 14 to 16 teams as long as television [schedule] is okay and we don’t get just four airings a week. If television is okay, we can field up to 14 to 16,” Marcial announced. (MJD)
