MANILA, Philippines — GAB chairman Abraham Mitra has reached out to MPBL founder Sen. Manny Pacquiao and MPBL commissioner Kenneth Duremdes on the possibility of turning the amateur nationwide league into a professional circuit under the supervision of the government agency.
The MPBL is now on its third season and has grown from 10 franchises in its initial campaign to 26 in the second and now, to 31. Each team is required to enlist at least three homegrown players and may recruit up to two Fil-foreigners with one to play at a time and a limit of five ex-pros from the PBA or any other professional league.
Former PBA players who move to the MPBL may return to the PBA only once and within the year of departure. PBA coaches may take on jobs with MPBL teams without curtailment. Rain or Shine assistant coach Chris Gavina, for instance, is head coach of the MPBL’s Bacoor Strikers.
Under UAAP rules, collegiate players may suit up in the MPBL as individuals even during the varsity season. But starting this year, incoming freshmen and transferees will no longer be allowed to play in the MPBL unless they’re part of a school team in the league. A UAAP Board member said there are no restrictions, except for the incoming freshmen and transferees, for UAAP players to see action in the MPBL “for as long as the league is not under GAB.”
Mitra said in their conversations, Sen. Pacquiao asked if turning the MPBL into a pro league may adversely affect the future of homegrown players while Duremdes anticipated the exodus of NCAA and UAAP players since collegiate athletes are not allowed to play as pros. A case in point is the PBA D-League which is not classified as a pro league as it welcomes collegiate players and school teams to participate without contracts. Mitra mentioned that Sen. Pacquiao is open to discuss the matter further.
“Regarding homegrown players, I explained to Sen. Pacquiao that making them pro would actually empower them and give them security,” said Mitra. “In FIBA competitions, there is no longer a distinction between amateurs and pros. Basketball is an open competition in FIBA and the Olympics where pros and amateurs play together without differentiation of status. Right now, there’s no such thing as a semi-pro league anymore. My intention in suggesting the transformation of the MPBL into a pro league is to be able to establish controls for its long-term viability. It’s Sen. Pacquiao’s goal to make the MPBL self-sufficient so that it can sustain itself.”
Mitra said if the MPBL is a pro league, the GAB will be authorized to supervise and oversee its operations. “I only want to help Sen. Pacquiao and the MPBL succeed,” he said. “If there’s any way that the GAB can help, we’re ready to do our share. The MPBL is a great concept and we want to make sure it continues for the long term.”
Although the MPBL is not considered a pro league, its players are under contract and receive a salary or allowance from a minimum of P15,000 to a maximum of P50,000 a month. The downside for varsity leagues is collegiate players, who are in MPBL rosters, may put their school obligations on lower priority because playing in the MPBL is a guaranteed gateway to a professional career.