PBA eyes coaches’ share in trust fund

If plans push through, the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Players Trust Fund will benefit not only the children of retired and active players but also those of the coaches and league officials as well.

Commissioner Noli Eala said earlier this week the PBA board is looking for ways to expand the list of beneficiaries of the trust fund, which is being spent on the education of the players’ children.

But the players association will have to be part of the decision. Since the trust fund doesn’t seem enough for all the players and their children, how much more if you include the coaches and league officials.

All PBA players may avail themselves of scholarships for their children with the number of school years depending on the number of years they played in the league.

The players can send their children to any school of their choice — from elementary, high school to college. If he played in the PBA for 20 years, his child or children can study for free for the same period of time.

"You can even send your child to Ateneo or any medical school as long as it’s in the Philippines. But your child must first meet the school’s academic requirement," said Willie Marcia, the PBA’s media bureau chief.

He cited a couple of PBA superstars who earned so much during their careers sending their children to the best schools for free, and another superstar who played for so long but didn’t go to the trust fund.

"There’s no favoritism here. It’s clearly stated in the policy of the trust fund that the scholarships will depend on the number of playing years. If you only played in the PBA for two years, that’s what you get," Marcial added.

There’s this player who finished college in Ateneo and saw action in the PBA in the ‘80s later on using the scholarship program for himself as he took up an MBA course.

The profits earned by the PBA from its annual All-Stars go directly to the trust fund. This year’s All-Stars will be held Aug. 9 to 15 in Cebu City. It will be a weeklong of fun and activities that will go beyond basketball.

"We really don’t expect to make money out of this because the All-Stars is for the fans. And whatever we can earn will go straight to the players trust fund," said Eala.