PBA, Asia’s first pro-league to farm league?….

IN my previous discussion, wherein I point out how Asia’s first “pay-for-pay” league Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) was once regarded as glamorous as of the world’s most prestigious National Basketball Association (NBA) back the old golden days. Saw the exodus of its current star players and young promising prospects being lured by our regional counterparts, offering “greener pastures”.

The so-called exodus started four or five years ago, when Asian rivals, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and of China started dangling higher pay, exorbitant benefits, product or services endorsement and best of all better privileges for their immediate family members, such as travel holiday with their wife and children. Medical emergencies like injuries incurred during game days, all expenses paid as part of their contract.

Like take in the case of our NBA prospect Kai Soto, though he failed to land a million-dollar deal with any of the teams out there, but his team, Yoshikawa Alphas offered and signed him up to close to a quadruple million dollar deal, twice heftier than the NBA’s Two-way contract for starters. Excluding other benefits, endorsement and privileges, amounting to more than a quarter million.

With that kind of amount (I can not disclose the exact amount due to business ethics), who wouldn’t be tempted to take the bait and assured their family of a better quality of life knowing likewise their future are far more secured.

Few years back, PBA Commissioner Willy Marcial, who admitted during a Senate Inquiry, the league can not compete against our Asian rivals, which offering sky-rocketing contracts and a life-changing packages and offers.

And because of these, some PBA’s star players, in the likes of the Ravena brothers, Thirdy and Kiefer, both started the mass exodus in 2020, during the height of global pandemic as they signed up and play to separate teams in the Japan B-League. San-en NeoPhoenix and The Yokohama B-Corsair, respectively. thus opening the floodgates for other players to follow suit.

Even the young and promising players skipped the PBA Rookie Draft instead setting their eyes to play overseas either in Japan, the Korean league and Taiwan. The likes of Kevin Quiambao, who after his UAAP stint with La Salle, he managed to secured a deal with Goyang Sono Skygunners in the K-League and former UP Fighting Maroons Carl Tamayo, who also followed Quiambao’s path and ended up signing with Changwon LG Sakers.

Another UP Fighting Maroons, Quintin Millora-Brown, who supposed to be a top choice, signed up the Macau Black Bear and saw action in a friendlies versus Gilas, won it 103-89.

Also would be rookie top pick, is the high-flying Rhenz Abando, who didn’t completed his university stint with Colegio de San de Letran, after two years attracted by the Anyang Jung Kwang Red Booster and was recently reunited with Anyang after he was released two years ago.

The latest defection to the Japanese league is the Barangay Ginebra’s key player Jaime Malonzo, who is currently a mainstay in the Gilas-Pilipinas national team now competing in FIBA Asia Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, signed up to another Japan B-League squad, the Kyoto Hannary, two days Gilas fly to Jeddah.

As the mass exodus of PBA’s star players continues and the young promising rookie prospects skip or void the draft, in search for a better life overseas,

The once regarded as Asia’ s prestigious pro-league

Is slowly losing its glitters and supremacy in the region. Unless the PBA should come up with innovative or more robust changes.

It will take more than just innovation, (maybe the 4-point currently added) to check the league’s skidding and deteriorating glory. I hope the PBA should act fast and soon to void of becoming the Asia’s farm league.