UAAP smoke hasn’t cleared

Before the smoke has even cleared on the battlefield, before the sweat has even evaporated from the triumphant brows of the De La Salle Green Archers, and before the tears have dried from the eyes of the heart-broken Ateneo Blue Eagles, the fires of a new battle have been stoked.

The UAAP has announced that it may ban its players from playing in the Philippine Basketball League, after all. Initially, the UAAP, through its president Anton Montinola of FEU, stated that they would not want to make a firm decision on the matter, and was somewhat sympathetic to the amateur league. But now, that stand may fall in line with a previous resolution of the Games and Amusements Board affirming that the PBL is a professional league.

Once again, PBL commissioner Chino Trinidad has no shortage of words for this tiresome development.

"We have been sidetracked by this GAB ruling repeatedly," he begins. "And I have done everything: I’ve talked to Malacañang, talked to the past GAB chairman and talked to the present GAB chairman. Honestly, I’m tired of this already.

"I’m tired of presenting all the legalities of the issue. At the end of the day, it boils down to who has the better legal opinion. And with all the lawyers involved on both sides, there will be many legal opinions."

Trinidad, however, clarifies that he is looking at the bigger picture, and not just the financial viability or survival of his league.

"The fight is no longer regarding me staying on as commissioner, or the PBL staying on as a league. The fight is for the future of all these players who look to the PBL as a venue for them to prepare to become professional players."

"For me the classic example is Renren Ritualo," he explains. "He joined us three years ago with Colt 45; then he went back to the La Salle program. Every time, he was a different man, because he got to play against the best amateur players in the country, something that his school could not give him every day. Aside from that, playing for Welcoat — which, incidentally, has been in the last four or five championships — has really increased his confidence and given him the ability to adjust to difficult game situations.

"Renren stayed in the PBL and completed his five years of eligibility in UAAP. We gave Renren an opportunity to stay in school, get extra income and complete his tenure. If we are declared a professional league, how many players like Renren will miss out on this opportunity?"

At the end of the day, with both the NCAA and UAAP severely limiting or even banning their players from developing through the PBL, it may boil down to each player making his choice.

"Personally, I don’t want the players to choose," says Trinidad. "I’ve been telling them we don’t want the players to choose between us and the UAAP or NCAA. In fact, during college tournaments, we stop our league. And yet, tuloy-tuloy ang suweldo nila. We are the only league that has been silently subsidizing these players. Some people look at the PBL contracts and say that that makes them professionals. But a contract also protects the players."

Beyond that, Trinidad says that FIBA, the world governing body for basketball, recognizes the value of having player contracts. In the symposium in 1999, held before the 2000 Olympics, FIBA asked for a standardized player contract. If FIBA itself wants to implement that, the PBL reasons, why can’t we?

"Incidentally, De La Salle and Ateneo, which figured in the UAAP finals, have seen the fruit of their joining the PBL. Their teams have become stronger. The PBL has benefited, both schools have benefited, and even the UAAP has benefited. So maybe there should be other ways of looking at contracts."

At the end of the day, players enter the PBL because they want to become professional basketball players. And there is no course on becoming a professional basketball player in any school in this country. So why should the school prevent a player from going after his dream?