SAN Miguel Corp. sports director Alfrancis Chua on Wednesday defended multiple ownership of PBA teams by two rival blocs, saying they only do so to help the league maintain a healthy number of member ballclubs.
Speaking in a preseason press conference at EDSA Shangrila, Chua, who is also vice-chairman of the PBA board, addressed an issue blamed by a number of fans for the widening divide between the league's powerhouse teams and minnows.
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Chua, however, said the prime motivation of SMC and the MVP groups in maintaining multiple teams - SMB, Magnolia and Ginebra on one side and TNT, Meralco and NLEX on the other - is to keep league membership up.
“Sister teams, sabi alisin niyo na ‘yan," said the outspoken Chua. "Baka apat o lima na lang na teams ang matira sa PBA."
San Miguel big boss Ramon S. Ang had previously admitted that the cost of maintaining three PBA teams can rup up to a billion pesos annually.
If given a choice, Ang would gladly free himself of the financial burden, Chua said.
"Akala lang nila, San Miguel and MVP group [of Manny V. Pangilinan] natutuwa sa sister teams," said the former PBA and PABL coach. "Marami sa atin, isang team nga lang, nag-i-struggle na, tatlong team pa hahawakan mo.
"My boss Ramon S. Ang is helping the league kaya tatlo [ang teams]. Sino ba ang ayaw na gustong alisin ‘yan? Kasi mas makakatipid siya. Siguro ganun din kay Boss MVP. Mas makakatipid," he continued.
"Pero dose tayo, masaya kaya gusto natin magdagdag. Gawin niyong bente-singko [25 teams] ito, baka mag-isa na lang kami kasi marami na. Hindi ganun kadali to convince somebody to join the PBA like that. Hindi ganun kadali sa amin,” said Chua.
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