League parity has been a significant issue for the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) since the controversial Christian Standhardinger-to-San Miguel transaction of 2017.
This deal not only raised eyebrows but also exposed the existing “blocs” within the league.
In response, the league’s board of governors has become more united, with notable joint ventures between the two most influential groups: San Miguel Corporation and the MVP Group.
However, fan dissatisfaction remains high.
The league is hearing these concerns loud and clear.
PBA Chairman Ricky Vargas addressed the issue during the Season 49 press conference, stating, “If you listen to what we were saying in this conference and how we have adjusted and how we put in the rules and how the teams have already adjusted, with the unlimited height of imports in the next conference, and the adjustment of two groups, it is sort of addressing those issues.”
However, Vargas questioned whether true parity in sports is achievable.
Since 2017, the SMC bloc has won 14 of the last 17 titles, while the MVP Group claimed the remaining three.
He drew a comparison with the UAAP, asking, “Sino ba ang top four teams ng UAAP? At sino ba ang bottom teams ng UAAP? Meron din bang parity doon?
“Parity is a very vague question. Who is judging [who is] a weak team and [who is] a strong team? Is UE a weak team? It’s the best team they put together and it can win. UST, is it a weak team? Maybe for that conference it’s a weak team. Maybe in this UAAP, it’s going to be a strong team. It’s a very subjective point of view.”
PBA Vice Chairman Alfrancis Chua echoed Vargas’s sentiment, adding,
“Sinabi niya sa UAAP or sa NCAA, pikit mata, alam natin kung sino malakas ng team. Bakit? Alam niyo ‘yun. ‘Yung mga magagaling na player, napupunta sa ganito, ganyan” Chua continued, “since way, way, way back, wala pa ako sa PBA, commentator (pa ako), topic na ‘yan… Ang akin lang dito, you cannot change things overnight.”
All eight schools in the UAAP have won at least one collegiate title last season.
“You cannot fix parity. It’s very subjective eh. Boxing, it’s a very subjective sport,” added Vargas, the concurrent chairman of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines.
In discussing the challenges of achieving parity, Vargas remarked, “I can complain all I want na mali ang judging and there will be 10 other people na mali ‘yung judging or tama ‘yung judging. At the end, it is the team that you bring and that goes out there.
“In competition and in sports, I have five boxers in the Olympics. May parity ba doon kapag pumunta ka doon, kalaban mo mga mayayaman na bansa who have more investment in training and technology?”
Vargas stressed that parity is a subjective concept.
“You are saying lack of parity because you question the trades. But who is questioning the trades? Experts? Non-experts? Owners of teams? Non-owners of teams? Who is in a better position to know whether that is the requirement of my team or not. Maybe I’m looking long term, or maybe I’m looking short term or maybe I want to win now like some other teams,” he opined.
“It’s very subjective but we appreciate that. We allow the discussion – mali ‘yung trade mo, unfair ‘yung trade mo. We allow that because it also makes us better. ‘Yun ang tingin ko sa lahat ng to.”
He concluded, “Sports equalizes. It’s not how rich you are or how poor you are. It equalizes. Kasi it’s more than just your wanting to win and your ability to win. It’s how you manage the team and how you want and your commitment to the team.”
Despite low attendance, Chua remains optimistic about the publicity generated by ongoing discussions.
“Kami, I told the governors, I told this to Chairman Ricky, I told this to Commissioner, ang daming bumabatikos sa PBA. Sabi ko, okay ‘yun. Napapansin pa tayo. Kapag hindi na tayo pinapansin, doon tayo matakot.”
