Fil-sham controversy deterring Compton bid

Reeling from the impact of the "Fil-sham" controversy, most PBA top officials felt it might not be wise to bend league rules and allow Philippine-based American player Alex Compton to play in the country’s premier cage league.

That’s the sentiment of the majority of the league board of governors although they deferred making a decision on Compton’s appeal in their meeting Monday, opting to first get inputs from the players and team owners on the issue.

Sources said Compton’s appeal would have been turned down if a vote were called by the board.

The same sources said only Air21, Talk n Text and Alaska were keeping an open mind on the possible entry of the former MBA star guard in the PBA.

Compton, born to an American couple in the country but considered by many as very much a Filipino than Fil-Ams with questionable papers playing in the league, has a pending appeal for exemption in the existing eligibility rules for the annual PBA draft.

Welcoat filed a separate appeal on behalf of Compton, hoping that it be allowed to include the 5-foot-10 guard among the three players it’s automatically elevating to the pro ranks in its entry in the league this October.

"It’s a very sensitive issue so the board decided to get the inputs of team owners first," said The STAR source.

"We’d just resolved the Fil-sham issue. Are we ready to get into another ticklish matter? What for? That’s the sentiment of the board," the source added.

He also said the board has nothing against Compton personally but is concerned with the precedent it would create should they give in to the appeal.

"Another question is whether he could really be an asset to the league. At 32, he’s no longer in the peak of his career," said the source. "He may be a source of protest or complaint from homegrown players."

It would be recalled that the homegrown players led by Marlou Aquino and Jerry Codiñera went to as far as the Senate, the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Immigration to pursue their case against the Fil-shams.

Compton has said he’s now playing his last tournament in the PBL. If his appeal to the PBA isn’t granted, he’ll stop playing and concentrate on his job as training director of Nike basketball camps for kids.