The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) continues as the Commissioner’s Cup had its share of the limelight, thanks in part to Bol Bol, the high profile, legit NBA import of this batch.
Bol has aroused curiosity (pun intended) and he has delivered, although still beneath the lofty expectations that Filipinos place upon extremely tall players.
The Rain or Shine win streak was a breath of fresh air, and it ended at the hands of Phoenix, another team not associated with the empires. There is hope, and the league may be trending in the right direction.
The harsh reality is that the PBA is now the second choice for the top tier Filipino players, with options abroad coming first. But what if the PBA may not even be the top local league? Can the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) upstage the oldest professional league in Asia?
MPBL Advantages: No Draft
While the PBA has deferred its draft to 2027, the waiting college stars have already found seats in the MPBL. The San Juan Knights collared the graduating guards of UP, then acquired their rival, former La Salle center Mike Phillips. These players developed loyal followers in their intense, three-year rivalry Now, they have assembled in one team.
That won’t happen in the PBA. Players cannot choose their teams, and the top stars will, ideally, be drafted by the worst teams. The intention of the draft is good–for parity, for better exposure for the top rookies. However, the PBA has bastardized the spirit of the system.
Sure, the direct hiring system will lead to powerhouses like the Abra Weavers from last year. But there is still a wealth of undiscovered talent that makes games competitive.
Side note: The Knights lost a game to Rizal who hardly has the star power to match. It’s a testament to the gritty, unpredictable basketball which can lead to underdog wins. It’s very entertaining for the general Pinoy audience. Speaking of which:
Captive Audiences
Having a home-and-away format with teams representing towns and cities gives them a default audience that company-based teams could not claim. Ginebra did not become popular because of the brand–it was because of the team, specifically its players.
When MPBL players become more popular, the star factor will emerge. But for now, the teams can attract casual audiences simply because of geography.
Loose Salary Cap
Let’s face it, the PBA doesn’t have a hard cap as well. They only impose on the drafted rookies. That’s why you have Dave Ildefonso not signing with the team that drafted him, even after getting traded.
The scenario of actual signed PBA players leaving their mother teams to play in the MPBL (while they are still being offered a max salary) is still far off. But if the league becomes commercially profitable, it may pique the interest of bigger investors and raise the salary rates.
Exaggerated Threat?
To the dismay of PBA doomsdayers, it’s still a long way before the MPBL can actually be a true force. The advantages can also lead to the league’s collapse if left unchecked. Not having a draft can create such a huge divide and most games will become predictable and lopsided.
With better scouting, prized recruits would be on the public radar even at the early high school stages. When that happens, bigger schools with equipped machinery (read: money) will round up most elite talent. The underdog teams of MPBL will feel the discrepancy.
Another keyword for the MPBL: sustainability. The MPBL predecessor, the Metropolitan Basketball Association(MBA) made a big splash, even prying top talent like Rommel Adducul away from the PBA. Some teams had deep pockets, ready to engage the PBA conglomerates in a bidding war.
However, most sponsors had political ties and once the MBA outlived its function as a campaign tool, many teams were abandoned.
Coexistence
We don’t really have to choose, and having more leagues is always welcome for both fans and players. The best scenario is for MPBL to find its niche, and thrive alongside the PBA. There are lessons to be learned, though, and the PBA should not be an old dog who couldn’t learn new tricks.
