PBA proposal to avoid controversial trades

To avoid controversies involving future trades, the PBA might soon implement the RTL (restricted trading list) rule stating that the top five players from each team can only be traded for those on the same list.

Commissioner Noli Eala said the RTL is a proposal that’s been sitting in the boardroom for the last two months now.

"The RTL was already with the board since June 19 of this year. Unfortunately, it wasn’t discussed during that time and was deferred for future board meetings," said Eala.

Under the rule, each team will be asked to make a list of their top five players. These players can only be traded for the top five players of the other teams.

The players, Eala explained, would be chosen based on their longevity, marketability, skills and salary. He said under this rule, an Asi Taulava may only be traded for an Erik Menk, or a Mike Cortez for a Jayjay Helterbrand.

Eala said he will move for the RTL’s implementation as a result of a recent trade involving seven players from Air21 and sister teams Coca-Cola and Ginebra.

Officials from four teams questioned the trade which they claimed benefited Ginebra the most since it managed to acquire Raffy Reavis and Billy Mamaril from Coca-Cola by letting go of players of "lesser" caliber.

Eala yesterday said nothing was illegal with the trade, except for the part that involved Air21’s 2007 and 2008 draft picks that were conceded to Coca-Cola but later on were returned to Air21.

"It’s not the perfect trade, but it’s legal. Except for the return of the draft picks to Air21, everything is okay. If Air21 wants to get those draft picks, then they would have to come up with another transaction for that," Eala added. — Abac Cordero