Why penalize Purefoods?

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Board of Governors is expected to rule on Purefoods’ fate as a basketball team in a meeting this Monday.

If the decision is to disband the Purefoods club because San Miguel Corp. bought the former Ayala company last May and no group may own more than two franchises, then it is grossly unfair to millions of Tender Juicy Hot Dogs fans.

A decision to disband will also send a wrong signal to prospective PBA franchise holders that the league isn’t out to protect the interests of its investors. Since entering the majors in 1988, Purefoods has set a lofty standard of excellence on the court. Over P300 Million was invested to build, fortify, and transform the Hot Dogs into a championship-caliber team.

Through the years, Purefoods has become a household name. Corporate officials insist the PBA exposure was a major reason why today, Purefoods, as a dominant brand, controls a significant portion of the hotdog market. The commercial value of playing in the PBA is why industry giants like the RFM Corp., Alaska, Tanduay, San Miguel, La Tondeña, Philippine Long Distance Tel. Co., Sta. Lucia Realty, Shell, Red Bull and of course, Purefoods, paid a hefty price for franchises in the pro league.

Purefoods is a PBA success story that should be told over and over again because it’s the perfect example of a franchise reaping the benefits of investing in a competitive basketball team. To destroy the story would be like the PBA shooting itself in the foot. For there is no way the PBA can rationalize forcing a franchise holder to flush over P300 Million down the drain.

San Miguel bought Purefoods not because of its basketball team. The decision was based on mutually beneficial business considerations. Acquiring the Hot Dogs team was incidental to the purchase.

So how can the PBA Board in conscience penalize Purefoods for making a sound business decision to forge a strong business synergy with the country’s No. 1 company? How can it explain to Alvin Patrimonio, Noy Castillo, Rey Evangelista, and Andy Seigle that their team is being disbanded because Purefoods decided to gear up for a brighter future? How can it explain that to the Hot Dogs’ countless fans?

Purefoods is one of the PBA’s most popular teams. The surveys show it. There is incredible goodwill in the Purefoods brand. The franchise has won five championships and figured in 16 Finals — surely, a record to be proud of. Purefoods has played in 10 of the last 14 All-Filipino Finals, a testimony to its overachieving local cast.

Because of its track record and wide fan base, Purefoods has contributed in no small measure to the PBA’s success. Purefoods PBA Governor Francisco Alejo said "the team contributes in promoting the league and improving the attendance in the different playing venues through its thousands (of) avid fans and followers."

If the Board is wary of collusion, Alejo said Purefoods has agreed to lose its voting right and will not engage in player trades with San Miguel and La Tondeña. As for the possibility of "fixing" games, Alejo dispelled the fears and pointed to the recent All-Filipino Finals where so-called "sister" teams San Miguel and Barangay Ginebra slugged it out before record crowds.

"The level of attendance will also prove that the paying public did not perceive a rigged or pre-arranged outcome by the two sister teams," said Alejo. "On the contrary, the public witnessed games that were played fiercely by two professional sister teams."

For the Board to even insinuate the possibility of a "fix" is to insult the intelligence of PBA fans.

If the Board is afraid of compromising the league’s integrity, it must be reassured that a team like Purefoods – with its track record of excellence – will fight tooth and nail to preserve the Hot Dogs’ reputation.

Instead of debating whether or not to scrap the Hot Dogs team, perhaps the Board should focus its attention on improving the standards of officiating and getting pussyfooting players to play to their potential – two issues that undermine the league’s integrity more than San Miguel acquiring the Purefoods franchise.

Perspective is important in discussing Purefoods’ fate. It’s unfair to penalize Purefoods and its countless fans by revoking the Hot Dogs’ franchise on the premise that a "collusion" is possible. There are enough safeguards to protect the league from such a "collusion," imagined or otherwise.

Purefoods, San Miguel, and Barangay Ginebra are professional basketball teams that play to win – regardless of their ownership. The fans know it. Surely, the PBA Board knows it, too.