Tanduay shocker, San Juan surprise - THE GAME OF MY LIFE by Bill Velasco

Thursday was a curious day for Philippine basketball. Two announcements shook the sport in a most unprecedented manner.

First came the announcement that Tanduay would sever its ties with the PBA and jump to the MBA. It seems the slights to the Rhum Masters — big and small, real and imagined — have not mended, causing deepening resentment towards the leadership of PBA commissioner Jun Bernardino.

As far back as 1998, there were already rumors that Tanduay would join the MBA instead. The new franchisees wanted to elevate the core of the champion PBL team to the PBA intact. Supposedly, if the PBA did not relent, Tanduay would join the MBA instead. At the time, there was also talk that the Manila Metrostars would move to Makati, leaving the Manila slot vacant.

Bong Tan’s love for basketball runs deeper than his virtually bottomless pockets. He is the only PBA team owner to have actually played in the PBL (as recently as the 1990’s, at that), and he still plays the game. His passion for the game, above all, is white hot.

Since entering the PBA, Tanduay has been painted as a maverick organization, being penalized with unheard-of fines totaling somewhere in the vicinity of P10 million. Still, they have managed to stay competitive despite the loss of Eric Menk and Sonny Alvarado.

Is there substance to the biases Tan is accusing Bernardino of? Up to the early 1990’s, the PBA scheduled its second game (which had a bigger audience) to involve Ginebra, San Miguel or Purefoods, which were the most popular teams at the time. But that procedure ended when RFM (Pop Cola) and Pepsi entered the league in 1991, and the league scheduled games for equal exposure. But in terms of recent decisions and fines, Tanduay has been punished quite stiffly, and very publicly balked.

What impact will this have on the PBA? For sure, the PBA will survive. It has managed in the past to provide quality competition with a low of six teams. Tan owns the team and all the players’ contracts; he can do whatever he wants. Once he formally notifies the PBA of his intentions, will this open up another round of recriminations?

The main concern facing the PBA is not to get into public mud-slinging with the bulk of the season remaining. It would be in their best interests to keep mum about these problems and, if necessary, part silently. For the next season, the league must strive to keep the number of teams balanced. With the sale of Purefoods and Welcoat’s application in the balance, it is still uncertain how many teams will be playing in 2002. The PBA has the advantage of time, if they manage to settle matters in the boardroom and not the sports pages.

Thursday evening brought another unexpected development, this time at the MBA’s press launching. San Juan Knights team owner Sandy Javier announced that he was loaning two of his players, national team member Omanzie Rodriguez and discovery Bruce Dacia to Pharmaquick, his PBL franchise.

"I’m in last place (in the PBL), I have to do something," admitted Javier, whose San Juan Knights are ironically the defending MBA champions. "Besides, if they are able to lift the team, then that will be good promotion for the MBA."

A visibly surprised Rodriguez was asked to comment on his temporary reversion back to "amateur" status after two years.

"I don’t consider it a demotion," the MBA’s top shot blocker blurted. "I look at it as a challenge."

Dacia will end up playing first, on Tuesday, while Rodriguez suits up for the RP in the SEABA beginning Monday. After that, their true impact on the PBL will be known.

Again, Javier owns the contracts of players on both teams, so he can swap them if he wants, the only obstacle being clearance from both leagues and the matter of the players being professional or amateur. The big risk he takes, of course, is that the players either embarrass or injure themselves.

When you think about it, there is a rich precedent of amateurs and pros playing against each other. Up to the late 1980’s, the Philippine men’s team regularly played in the PBA as a guest squad. Overseas, open basketball has allowed NBA players to mingle with lifelong amateurs and commercial players from other leagues. It is just unusual that, this season, the PBL is playing while the MBA has been inactive, and Javier happens to own a team in each league.

Let’s see what results this experiment will create.

Note: Power Up is holding its fourth annual novice team climbing competition "Make the Team 4" today at Power Up Tandang Sora. All those who have been climbing for less than a year and have had no experience in national competition are encouraged to form a team of five, with at least one female member. Interested barkadas may call 932-7273 or 434-8670.