MPBL founder and chairman and former senator Manny Pacquiao is open to collaborating with PBA, noting both leagues are not in competition with each other and the sport could grow even more exponentially if they tie up. MPBL has 30 teams and is regionally-based while PBA maintains 12 squads and plays mainly in Metro Manila.
Newly-designated MPBL commissioner Emmerson Oreta, who played 23 games with TNT in two PBA seasons (2010-11, 2011-12), said a collaboration would benefit the national basketball program. He mentioned there were previous talks with PBA chairman Ricky Vargas on a working relationship but the discussions need to be revisited.
Oreta said MPBL isn’t worried about losing standout players to PBA, realizing that recent UAAP recruits Nic Cabanero, Kean Baclaan, Kymani Ladi, Dom Escobar and Steve Nash Enriquez could apply for the next PBA draft after this season is over. Prime examples of MPBL players moving to PBA are first overall draft picks Justine Baltazar and Geo Chiu. In return, several PBA players moved to MPBL like Marc Pingris, Jayjay Helterbrand and Encho Serrano. Vic Manuel is an example of a PBA player who moved from PBA to MPBL and back.
Abra team manager Chris Conwi said an MPBL-PBA tie-up could work like the NBA’s relationship with the G-League as its farm system. There are 30 G-League teams directly affiliated with NBA teams and since 2017-18, NBA teams can sign G-League players to two-way contracts that allow splitting time to provide flexibility and development. The G-League also serves as an R&D lab for the NBA to test proposed rules and innovations. It could be a similar situation if MPBL and PBA agree to join forces. PBA could be the main feature of a twinbill with MPBL as the opener. PBA would benefit from MPBL’s provincial following and MPBL would benefit from PBA’s Metro Manila following.
Unlike PBA, MPBL doesn’t employ a draft system so it’s an open market for players. But once MPBL players aspire to transfer to PBA, they’ll go through a draft. It works both ways. MPBL has the freedom of choice because it has a large team base from which to choose players while PBA, like NBA, controls the entry of players under strict guidelines for parity purposes.
Oreta, who has been in charge of MPBL operations the last seven years, said with Pacquiao’s vision, the future is bright. Signing up with Sports Plus is a major development. Setting up projects abroad through an international company is another big move. “We’ll never run out of players,” said Oreta. “We just want to give an opportunity for more players to play the game we love.”
Conwi said he expects Abra’s star player Dave Ildefonso to jump to the PBA next season. “Converge now has his rights,” he said. “Raven Gonzales, who was MPBL Rookie of the Year last season, might join the draft. But we’re flexible. We’re ready to make adjustments. We only want the best for our players.”