Back in the mid-1980s, the PBA actually had a rule that prevented the league’s finest big men from playing in one team. And that very rule is what Blackwater Elite owner Dioceldo Sy hopes to see implemented once more.
This comes in the wake of the approval of the controversial Kia-San Miguel trade last October, where the end result was a formidable frontcourt duo of reigning MVP June Mar Fajardo and Fil-German big man rookie Christian Standhardinger.
“I hope to bring back the old PBA ruling of the protect list,” said Sy, recalling the time when greats Ramon Fernandez, Abet Guidaben, Manny Victorino, and eventually Yoyoy Villamin were barred from teaming up due to the said list.
“It would be nice to see like [JP] Erram playing against Japeth [Aguilar]; Japeth against [Greg] Slaughter; Fajardo plays against Standhardinger, ‘di ba? Hindi magkakasama,” pointed out the former chairman of the now-defunct PBL
Such ruling actually worked out well that time. According to Jonas Terrado of the Manila Bulletin, Fernandez and Guidaben were traded twice for one another in 1985 and in 1988. And not even once in their illustrious PBA careers did they play alongside each other.
The fruit of that rule is what Sy wishes to see again, as it will be beneficial not just for all the teams, but for the league’s audience as well, who have been clamoring through social media for fair competition in Asia’s first pro league.
“It would be fair to everybody and it would be good. It would be fantastic for our PBA fans to watch all the big men play against one another… If they play against one another, it should be very good for the league,” he said.
“That’s my dream and hope.”
