BOCAUE, Bulacan – The flaw in determining which team gets the top pick during the annual rookie draft has given PBA commissioner Chito Narvasa reason to shake up the system.
The league chief stressed the obvious need to finally adopt new measures in forming the draft order for teams, especially in light of KIA Picanto’s move to trade anew the top overall pick, this year to San Miguel.
This is the second time in three seasons the former expansion franchise did the practice after likewise sending their first round pick to TnT Katropa two years ago.
“We have to amend some of the procedures like the draft,” Narvasa pointed out on Friday shortly after approving the San Miguel-KIA deal.
“Definitely this kind of procedure for next year will not be in place anymore. Wala na yan, hindi na puwede,” added the commissioner. “We’ll look for a way how to have that being avoided so we will change that procedure.”
The order of draft is based on the win-loss percentage of a team for a season, with the Philippine Cup accounting for 40 percent and the import-laden Commissioner’s Cup and Governors Cup 30 percent each, respectively.
Previously, it was determined through a lottery between the two teams which had the worst record, but was set aside three years ago in the aftermath of a controversy that took place during the term of former commissioner Chito Salud.
Narvasa said the new draft procedure will be among those to be tackled when the league board holds its annual planning session next month in Los Angeles.
One other issue which the commissioner said already needs to be revised is the practice of sister teams to use a conduit to effect a trade.
“There has to be some kind of purity and transparency. Pag ganun, let’s simply be honest about it. Kung sister to sister team, just pay a certain fee to the PBA. And then it should be acceptable not only to the commissioner, but also has to be accepted by the Board,” he said.
“That’s why if there are some procedural flaws, then I think dapat pagtulungan natin na maayos.”
Narvasa added changes should be made in order to unburden the commissioner of taking the heat all by his lonesome whenever a major issue comes up such as the KIA-San Miguel trade.
“The burden of everything right now falls on the shoulder of the commissioner even if there is a flaw in the system,” he stressed. “Whether it’s me or somebody else, will have to take that burden as I am taking it.”
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