The new season of the PBA has started but what I really wanted to know was whether or not the rumors of the PBA imposing a new rule on draft dodgers—preventing young college players from pursuing a career abroad—are true.
Snow Badua, who is banned from the PBA but still has a lot of inside sources, shocked basketball fans when he mentioned some of the rules being looked at. I think, maybe the initial reaction to what Badua shared prodded the league not to share any official news.
I hope the league does revisit the draft dodger rules and its planned ban. It’s a step backward and, coming from a country that exports laborers and whose economy is boosted by overseas Filipino workers, such a move would be ironic.
Like I earlier said, the league should see Asian teams hiring Filipino players as an opportunity, not a competition. The league should welcome it. Aside from opening the way for other young Pinoys to be signed by other regional leagues, the spots that would be left open in the PBA would go to other talented kids.
Anyway, I hope the league won’t just drop the new rules on unsuspecting fans and players when we least expect it.
NBA FINALS. After two lopsided wins by the Suns, to the consternation of Bucks fans who were forced to part with their money, Milwaukee is now a win away from winning the NBA title after taking Games 2, 3 and 4.
“Gi-bigay” was how most of the fans I talked with described Games 3 and 4, while for Game 5, they were impressed with the Bucks erasing an early 16-point lead on the road.
Game 6 is at 9 a.m. today and whatever the outcome, I’m just happy that after years of Cleveland, Golden State, Miami and the Lakers featuring in the finals, the NBA will have a new champion. I’m hoping it would be the Suns though, but Phoenix will have to find something new and stop a collapse against the Bucks.
By the way, all this money exchanging hands after every game in the NBA finals again reminds me that perhaps, it’s time for the country to consider legalizing sports betting. It has become a boon in the United States and perhaps, we should consider that option.
That would be a worthwhile study instead of the aborted plan to have another boxing agency. I mean, you know someone who has bet at least once in the finals, right? Just consider how much in revenues and taxes would be generated if the country legalized sports betting.