If there’s one legacy Alaska owner Fred Uytengsu wants to leave when it bids the Philippine Basketball Association farewell sometime in April, it’s to win with integrity.
It has been the thrust of the Alaska franchise during its 36-year stay in the PBA that saw them win 14 championships and make 31 finals appearances.
Over the years however, Uytengsu wore his heart his sleeve, being vocal on what he and his organization saw as unethical that resulted in an “unleveled playing field.”
“This started with the Fil-Sham debacle, where players with Filipino-like surnames were playing in the PBA with fake birth certificates and passports. Unfortunately, the league was slow to respond to this,” he recalled about the scandal that rocked the league in the early 2000s during his speech in the 25th PBA Press Corps Awards.
“The purpose of the draft is to strengthen the weaker teams. However, what we have seen lately is these weaker teams end up selling their top draft picks because if you look at who is being traded in return, it clearly doesn’t make basketball sense for the weaker teams unless there is another consideration,” he opined about the Kia-San Miguel trade of 2017 that saw the first overall pick that eventually ended up being Christian Standhardinger go to then-defending Philippine Cup champions Beermen.
“It’s difficult to comprehend how a team can fit within the team salary cap, paying those players all at approved maximum PBA salaries, while still maintaining a strong sixth through eighth players. I’ve done the math and it doesn’t work,” he once said about the league’s salary cap, also in 2017.
In 2022, the same problems still remain, and then some. The corporations backing the teams are still recovering their losses caused by the ongoing pandemic while blue chip players are deciding to sign with overseas leagues.
Still, Uytengsu hopes that once they leave, the remaining 11 teams come together and revisit some of the league’s rules.
“I hope we’ve done everything we can do as a franchise, as an independent team to set the example,” he said. “I know times are difficult for each team, times are difficult for the league.
“But I hope that everyone comes together to talk, think league first, and that the league continues to be successful.”
It’s a chicken-and-egg question on where the league would start in solving its parity issues as teams from the San Miguel Corporation and the Manny V. Pangilinan Group already boast loaded rosters.
In fact, over the last 14 conferences, only Rain or Shine during the 2016 Commissioner’s Cup won the championships outside of the two conglomerates. Also during that span, only Rain or Shine and Alaska (2018 Governors’ Cup) were able to make the finals.
In a few years’ time, he hopes that the cycle stops.
“Look, I think you look at the balance of power, you have some very, very strong teams. And the draft is devised to help the weaker teams to become stronger so that any given day, the 10th, 11th, 12th team are competitive,” lamented Uytengsu. “I think going forward, to enhance the fan base, you are going to want to see the other teams not just making the playoffs but making the championships and winning one. I think that’s something for the league to think about going forward.
“I’ve espoused that for a long time now and I wish them luck in trying to achieve that.”
