Salvaging A Dream

(This appears in the January 10, 2008 edition of the Business Mirror.)

Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas President Manuel V. Pangilinan has reportedly called for a lunch meeting this coming Friday, January 11, 2008 with the board representatives of the NCAA and the UAAP. It’s nothing more than a simple lunch says one board member who wished to remain anonymous. But the speculation is that the failed proposal for a Superleague between the two oldest collegiate athletic associations will be brought up.

SBP Executive Director Patrick Gregorio in an email to this writer said, “Gusto lang namin makipagusap hindi lang sa NCAA at UAAP pati sa lahat ng gumagawa ng liga sa Pilipinas. One basketball program that is our dream.” Gregorio also cited online polls as being overwhelmingly positive for the creation of a superleague.

Unfortunately, many in the basketball community feel that Gregorio instead polarized the basketball community by taking his proposals to the public as opposed to initially sitting down with the bodies and persons concerned. “The groundwork for such an endeavor is daunting. While it normally takes at least a year in planning,” said one UAAP board member. “A lot has to be discussed. There is a calendar of events to be followed. Any new introductions normally are put off until the following year. What he (Gregorio) should have done was make a formal presentation. As it is, he spoke with some people and probably misconstrued their liking the idea as immediately implementable. Everyone concerned was only hearing of things through the newspaper or hearsay.”

Sources within the University of the Philippines community confirm this. When the Chancellor Sergio Cao met with Gregorio it was nothing more than an informal discussion of the school’s centennial plans. There was no mention of any blueprint for a superleague, a merger, or a fusion of the two associations whatsoever.

We solicited feedback from the NCRAA and one representative said “We don’t really discuss it since hindi naman kami kasali. But I don’t think it will prosper. I don’t think they (SBP) went about it the right way.”

With similar sentiments and their own interests at stake, the UAAP last Monday, January 7, shot down the proposal through a unanimous 8-0 vote. Media partner ABS-CBN likewise came out with a statement saying that no proposal was brought forth to them whatsoever and that they weren’t ready for any merger within a short time span.

But Gregorio says the SBP is not giving up on putting up their proposal. "All we ask is for a chance to present ourselves. Maganda ‘to. Promise.”

Hopefully this time around they’ll do it the right way.

What is my personal stand on this whole proposal? I am for it if only for one season. But if the two leagues want to make it happen then cool let's do it. I support Pato Gregorio on this endeavor. But I believe that the SBP should be more concerned with the overall picture such as national development and not delve into the businesses of the smaller leagues. When the current infrastructure was put together, the SBP said they would not reinvent the wheel but work with the existing structures. That is why I have pushed for the Champions League to be fixed. It's the only tournament so far that does it. Bantay Bata is nothing more than a charity event. The problem with leagues here is that they become the personal fiefdom of people who refuse and will not relinquish control. If people look to the US NCAA model that's because the Americans are more sticklers for order and organization and they've had the model around for years. But conferences such as the ACC, Pac-10, Big Ten etc. are free to run their competitions as long as they follow the governing body's rules.

Well I am willing to suspend my disbelief and doubts about the superleague (fusion and other other word that is used has the same connotation when used in the same proposal. It is a merger by another name). But why stop there? It's insulting to the leagues and teams that operate outside Imperial Manila. That's why teams from the provinces feel that tourneys like the CCL are stacked against them. Any such undertaking doesn't take a couple of months to plan.

Having said that, I have no clue why these plans are being discussed in public and in the media. It is wrong and totally unprofessional. They become subject to misinterpretation and may be regarded with suspicion. They are internal matters. Things like these should be discussed with your head and a modicum of what's in your heart. Basketball like movies or music are forms of entertainment and art, but there is always the business side that you have to consider unfortunately. Think smart. Think two or three steps ahead. It's the best way to get your plans across.