THE departure of Encho Serrano from Phoenix, and consequently from the PBA, had nothing to do with the league’s decision to slam the door on the Converge FiberXers’ choice for board governor, Dennis 'Delta' Pineda.
In an exclusive chat with SPIN.ph, the Pampanga governor revealed that Serrano was given an offer by Phoenix that they felt was well below the player's worth.
“Magkano lang in-offer nila dun sa bata? Magkano lang kontrata ni Encho dun, P70,000 lang?” said Pineda. “Ikaw ang tanungin ko, ''Yun ba ang value ni Encho?”
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Asked if he simply matched or bettered the offer of Phoenix to convince Serrano to join his Pampanga team in the MPBL, Pineda, who is the owner and head coach of the Giant Lanterns, said the decision ultimately didn't boil down to money.
"Hindi naman pera ang pinag-uusapan namin ni Encho dito, yung saya nya na maglaro ulit para sa probinsya n'ya. Yung loyalty n'ya sa Pampanga at sa akin (bilang discoverer n'ya),” said Pineda.
“Yung enjoyment ni Encho sa crowd (ng Pampanga) ang isa pa sa mga nagtulak sa kanya na maglaro para sa amin,” said Pineda, who also helped launch the careers of PBA stars Arwind Santos, Calvin Abueva and Ian Sangalang.
"Saka hindi ako tumawag sa kanya. Siya ang lumapit sa akin at sinabi yung gusto n'ya (na maglaro sa team ng Pampanga),” said the two-term governor.
Asked if Serrano's departure from the PBA was his way of getting back at the league for the decision to keep him out of the league board, Pineda said he holds no rancor in his heart for the league or its officials.
The league explained that the board made to reject Pineda's appointment to keep the policy-making body 'apolitical.'
"Hindi ako yung uri na babalik sa PBA. I still respect the league. Ako naniniwala ako na maibabalik pa natin 'yung dating glory ng PBA,” said Pineda.
"(At hindi man ako nakapasok bilang governor ng board) kailangan kong suportahan ang PBA. Bakit? Pagnawala yan, papano yung mga bata nating basketbolista, san pupunta?” added the 49-year old provincial executive.
Pineda stressed he in fact grateful to the PBA for providing livelihood to upcoming players, including those belonging to his famous stable in Pampanga.
"Ako mas preferred ko na tulungan in some other ways yung PBA kasi yan ang oldest league in Asia. Kailangan nating protektahan ang prestige na 'yan,” said the son of former Pampanga governor Lilia Pineda.
"Hindi ko kailanman kakalabanin ang PBA kasi yan ang isang matibay na league na pupuntahan ng mga kabataan. Ang sa akin is to support yung PBA na ibalik yung dating glory nya,” he said.
"Kaya nga hindi na lang ako kumibo after what happened eh. Para sa mga kabataang nangangarap maging basketbolista.”
READ: Pampanga basketball should be replicated around the country
Pineda sees no reason to wish for the PBA's downfall, even after the board snub.
"Pwede akong makipag-salitaan sa kanila, pero bakit ko gagawin 'yun? Bakit ko kailangang i-destroy ang PBA? San mapupunta itong mga inaalagaan ko? Yung mga dine-develop kong mga bata, san mapupunta?“ he said.
If the choice is down to him, Pineda said he'd rather see his players get first-rate opportunities here than head overseas.
"Papupuntahin ko ng ibang bansa para magtrabaho? Hindi. Kaya kailangang pagtulong tulungan nating (itaas muli ang PBA),” Pineda added. "Parang mga OFWs yan eh. Kung may opportunity sila dito, hindi naman aalis ang mga 'yan?”
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