PBA board to meet to discuss future, trade of Kia Picanto

IS Kia Picanto still capable of maintaining a PBA team?

That’s the question being raised by several board members and team owners on Kia Picanto, which entered another questionable deal by trading its top overall rookie pick in the coming Draft to powerhouse team San Miguel Beer’s frozen talents.

Dickie Bachmann, Alaska’s representative to the PBA board and incoming vice chairman, is one of those who questioned the Columbian Auto Car-owned franchise’s motives of staying in the pro league.

“Are they here to compete or not?,” said Mr. Bachmann.

Just recently, Mr. Bachmann learned from PBA commissioner Chito Narvasa that Kia has just reached a deal with reigning three-time Philippine Cup champion San Miguel Beer for its top overall pick in exchange for rarely used players — veteran Jay- R Reyes, incoming sophomore Rashawn McCarthy and the Beermen’s first-round pick (no. 11 overall).

Several members of the board smelled something fishy behind the deal as this is the second time Kia has decided to trade its first-round pick in the last three years. In 2015, the team traded second overall pick Troy Rosario to TNT for then national team standout Aldrech Ramos and versatile forward KG Canaleta. Both players are no longer part of the Kia Picanto team.

Even team owner Dioceldo Sy, whose group Blackwater came into the league the same year Kia was accepted, questioned Kia’s motives.

“It’s a garbage trade. Commissioner Narvasa should throw this trade deal to the garbage can. If Kia can’t manage and run a competitive team, they need to sell the franchise to companies like Chooks To Go that has been actively supporting our Gilas team. It’s time for the board to do concrete action and time for the league to convene the team owners to sit down together to help rebuild the PBA,” added Mr. Sy.

Kia has been embroiled in several controversies in just three years of participation in the PBA.

In just its first season, Kia sacked then coach Glenn Capacio, who has acted as an interim mentor for the squad in the absence of then playing coach, eight-division world boxing champion and Senator Manny Pacquiao.

Mr. Capacio sought labor arbitration and won, but Kia filed a TRO at the Makati Regional Trial Court, hence no settlement has been reached as of this time.

Several players also came out to disclose how shabbily they were treated by the management.

Before its campaign for the season ended, Kia also lost its biggest attraction — Mr. Pacquiao, who is set to move out to run a new league he created, the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League. His associates which also run the team management of Kia Picanto, Eric Pineda and Jo Ramos, are also set to join him in the new league.

As the future of Kia Picanto looks uncertain, several board members have expressed apprehension. Based on the constitution and bylaws of the PBA, an expansion team should come in and participate in the league for at least five years.

Although the policy is still existing, Mr. Bachmann and several other members would question the team’s capability of sustaining a competitive squad. —