CHICAGO -- If Pulse Asia were to conduct a survey on the likeability or approval rating of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), the numbers would probably be mortifying.
In the low teens, and God forbid, maybe even negative.
Salary cap issues, unfair trades and policies that are generally pro-management are among the serious matters that have inflicted great reputational harm on what was once Asia's grandest pro basketball league.
READ: SOURCES SAY Javi trade proof Terrafirma is back to its old ways
And as if those headaches aren't enough, the lack of transparency is contributing to the wreck.
Last March 6, when the sale of Terrafirma to Starhorse Shipping appeared imminent, the PBA Commissioner's office announced that any trades involving Terrafirma will be held in abeyance until the purchase is consummated.
NO DEAL.
While the Starhorse deal fell through, Terrafirma is reportedly still up for sale, according to SPIN.ph colleague Gerry Ramos.
So, the moratorium should still be in place, right?
Wrong.
Terrafirma traded Javi Gomez de Liano to Magnolia last week for Jerrick Ahanmisi, a move that stunned league insiders
No surprise here, the PBA appears to have an insatiable appetite for changing rules and policies to serve its interests, often hiding those alterations in the darkness of internal memos.
OOOPS! THEY DID IT AGAIN.
What harm would have it done for the PBA to announce that Terrafirma's trade moratorium has been lifted?
It doesn't take PR savvy to understand that fans appreciate being informed about a policy change beforehand instead of just being told after the fact.
This latest fiasco isn't just hurting the image of the PBA. It's damaging the marketability and further diminishing the selling power of Terrafirma.
I mean, what carzy corporation will buy a team whose record is 2-20 in the last two conferences and whose roster has been cannibalized time after time?
From a player personnel standpoint, Terrafirma has no value right now outside of their decent young pieces in Mark Nonoy, Louie Sangalang and Kemark Carino.
And while team governor Bobby Rosales and team manager Ronald Tubid are wonderful people and respected family men, calling them good executives would be a crime against language.
Long story short, Terrafirma doesn't have assets to attract a decent buyer.
It's for sale, alright, but don't hold your breath seeing a "sold" sign on the Dyip front porch anytime soon.
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