In a letter dated last April 15 to PBA commissioner Noli Eala, Talk ‘N’ Text (TNT) representative Victorico Vargas said he was prompted by doubts on Shell import Jameel Watkins’ height to recommend the remeasurement.
The height ceiling for imports in the Fiesta Conference is 6-8. Watkins was measured at 6-7 7/8 by the PBA’s medical staff and certified by Phone Pals assistant coach Aric del Rosario as witness before he was cleared to make his local debut against TNT last April 14. Watkins scored 29 points to power Shell to a 91-89 win.
"To address doubts that have arisen about the real height of imports and to ascertain the integrity of the league’s measurement process, we suggest that we review PBA’s current measurement procedure under the guidance of a competent person or body," said Vargas. "This is the permanent solution. In the meantime, as an interim measure, we recommend that all imports be remeasured under guidelines which your office may want to define. TNT is submitting its import Jerald Honeycutt as the first to be remeasured."
Vargas told The Star an option is to tap sports medicine specialists from an independent body like the Philippine Sports Commission to conduct the remeasurement. He said local players like Asi Taulava may also be measured since they are often used to compare heights of imports.
Vargas pointed out that he spoke to Eala to question Watkins’ height at halftime of the Shell-TNT game. "We were ahead at the half so my question had nothing to do with the eventual outcome," said Vargas. "This is not sourgraping because we lost. This is about preserving the league’s integrity."
Shell representative Bobby Kanapi said he will not oppose the proposal to review the measurement procedures. But he stressed that whatever is decided by the Board on the issue can only be made effective on a prospective, not retroactive, basis. Kanapi added that he will support the concept of scrapping height limits for imports in the future. "The idea of setting height limits was to make imports defensible by locals and avoid imports dominating a game," he continued. "Today, you see a team like Alaska bringing in an import a lot shorter than the limit because the primary concern is he fits in the coach’s system. Today’s game is different from before. The competition will be very interesting without height limits for imports. Also, it will take away doubts on measuring procedures."
On the proposal to remeasure using a new procedure, Kanapi said it will require a change in policy. "The commissioner takes care of the rules and the Board takes care of the policies," said Kanapi. "If a policy is to be changed, it can only be done prospectively."
Eala said he is bound by the Board’s policy on measuring imports set in resolutions ratified in 1990 and 2001. The first resolution stipulates the measuring procedures and the second confirms that measurements are unappealable unless an import is measured to be overheight in which case he may appeal to be remeasured.
"We have never doubted Dr. Ben Salud’s procedures the last 30 years," said Eala. "But I think there is room for improvement. A possible future procedure is to measure the imports lying down instead of standing up."
Eala said there are other important issues to be discussed in the meeting. He said the Board will look into matters related to the transitional season.
"One issue is about players whose contracts are expiring at the end of the year when the season is still ongoing," said Eala. "Another is the possibility of adjusting the salary cap based on the transition season. The Board will also look into the policy on unrestricted free agency. Under our rules, a player may be signed to a maximum of three years and up to P350,000 a month. A player may be tied down to a team forever because if he gets an offer from another team, the terms can just be matched. There is no mobility option for marquee players unless they’re traded or cut. In this regard, we’re thinking of unrestricted free agency after a player signs a second contract or six years to allow for some mobility."
Eala said a financial report will be submitted to the Board.
He disclosed that the recent provincial game pitting Barangay Ginebra and Alaska in Puerto Princesa was another out-of-town sellout with ticket sales amounting to over P1.3 Million.
Alaska star John Arigo’s uncle Bishop Pedro Arigo of Palawan was in the crowd. Doctors attending a national orthopaedic convention took a break from their sessions and watched the game. Mayor Edward Hagedorn had the airconditioning in the state-of-the-art coliseum running for three days before the game to make sure of the coolness in anticipation of the huge turnout.
"Coach Tim (Cone) told me the conditions were better than in Manila because his team practiced with the air-conditioning on," said Eala.
Ticket sales for provincial games continue to reflect a trend of million-peso gates, justifying Eala’s approach to reach out to the countryside. The inauguration of a Metro Manila city-based junior league has also boosted the interest in the league at the grassroots level.
The charts show hefty increases in attendance, TV ratings and gate receipts since the start of the Fiesta Conference.