IN stark contrast to what armchair pundits and fans claim — that sister teams in the PBA are detrimental, the truth is they help the pro league’s sustainability.
“Sister teams, sabi alisin niyo na iyan,” San Miguel Corporation sports director and Ginebra team governor Alfrancis Chua said two days ago during the 49th season launch at the EDSA Shangri-La Manila in Mandaluyong.
“Baka apat o lima na lang na teams ang matira sa PBA. Akala lang nila, San Miguel and MVP group natutuwa sa sister teams. Marami sa atin, isang team nga lang, nag-i-struggle na, tatlong team pa hahawakan mo,” he added.
Billionaire Ramon S. Ang of SMC has three squads in Asia’s first play-for-pay league–San Miguel Beer, Magnolia, and the Kings.
Sports patron and business magnate Manny V. Pangilinan’s MVP bloc also has three teams, namely, TNT, Meralco, and NLEX.
Ang admitted the cost of keeping his stable usually costs P1 billion annually and pulling the plug in the PBA should be a wise decision. But he is doing it.
While managing teams is a big challenge, Chua maintained the Filipinos’ passion and love for the sport makes it worth it.
“My boss Ramon S. Ang is helping the league kaya tatlo (ang teams). Sino ba ang ayaw na gustong alisin iyan? Kasi mas makakatipid siya. Siguro ganoon din kay boss MVP. Mas makakatipid,” Chua said. “Pero dose tayo, masaya kaya gusto nating magdagdag. Gawin niyong bente-singko ito, baka mag-isa na lang kami kasi marami na.
“Hindi ganoon kadali to convince somebody to join the PBA like that. Hindi ganoon kadali sa amin.”
Proof of the league’s desire to lure fans back to the venues is the move to lower ticket prices on the 49th season opening day this Sunday, Aug. 18, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and possibly extend it during the entire cage wars.
