Open Letter to Commissioner Chito Salud

Mr. Chito Salud
Commissioner, Philippine Basketball Association
186 E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave., Libis, Quezon City


Dear Sir:


First of all, allow me to tell you that I am an avid PBA fan for over 20 years now.  Ever since Great Taste traded away Manny Victorino, Jimmy Manansala and cash for a rookie named Allan Caidic, I was hooked.  By extension, I moved on to the Ginebra train when Caidic became Assistant Coach to Rino Salazar.  In fact, a big part of the reason my blog, From the Fifty Peso Seats, was put up is because of this love for Asia's first pro basketball league.  This is why recent developments have caused me great concern.  I see you every time I watch the PBA live (which is often) and I know you are a hands-on commissioner.

The current semi-final series between Smart Gilas and the Baranggay Ginebra Kings has not been the dream series I anticipated it to be.  I'm not even talking about the perceived partial officiating wherein Nate Brumfield gets 27 free throw attempts, equal to the entire Smart Gilas total for the game.  You see, it doesn't matter to me whichever team wins because I love them both.  What matters is the quality and the morality of the game.


Everyone talks of how Ginebra is proving too tough for Gilas,  but there is a difference between playing tough and physical and playing dirty and unfortunately, it seems Ginebra has lost track of the line. They are intentionally hurting Gilas in the guise of playing tough. In the video below, Mark Caguioa executes a pre-meditated elbow to the back of Lassiter's head (23 sec mark).  The sad part is, this was the second elbow to the back of the head on a Gilas player in Game 1 (1st one was Yancy de Ocampo's on Douthit, 3rd video 35 sec mark).  There are other incidents too. De Ocampo chops at Douthit's fractured hand (video below). Aside from Caguioa's intentional trip on JV Casio in game 1's 4th quarter (3rd video, 2:13 mark), what scared me the most was Billy Mamaril's intentional squeezing and wrenching of Marcus Douthit's fractured hand, also in the 2nd half.  Unfortunately, I can find no videos of this incident posted yet.  Hopefully you can take a look at them too.









It absolutely baffles me that fans find humor in this and declare Gilas unready for international play since they are "soft."  These do not serve to make Gilas any tougher.  Wrenching of a fractured hand, tripping and elbows to the back of the head can not only hurt a person, but seriously maim them.  What it can't do is make the Gilas players ready for the FIBA Asia.  Malicious fouls like those have no place in even the smallest of baranggay leagues, let alone the nation's most prestigious league and the biggest question is, "Why do them on this team?"  Why do them on a team of young men who never once publicly showed any form of arrogance or dirty play?  Why do them on a team of young men who answered the nation's call to represent us in the FIBA Asia when no one else as capable would?

I realize as I write this that you have already punished Caguioa with a fine for a flagrant foul penalty 2 and another fine for tripping, but perhaps a stronger message could be sent by a game suspension. Win or lose Wednesday, Caguioa and the league is better served to miss a game after that, as a strong reminder that PBA players are the youth's greatest role models for basketball, that being a PBA All Star and champion is not just about scoring records and trophies but also the responsibility to be role models with outstanding attitude and sportsmanship. 


A part of me just wants Ginebra to end the series soon because I fear for Gilas' safety. How messed up is that?  Never even once in the two decades I watched the PBA have I ever wanted a series to end and that is why I am writing to you sir.  The PBA has always been a great league, something I love, something I defend and something I support.  Some of my fondest memories in college was watching Ginebra with my blockmates, constantly starting the chants of, "Hee-ne-bra!"  For now, though, I'm keeping my authentic Caguioa jersey folded and hidden in my closet.  I pray that you help me regain the pride to unfurl it and wear it again.