ROS owner bats for 2-conference format

Rain or Shine co-owner Raymond Yu yesterday called on the PBA to revive the two-conference format in order to give future national teams ample time to prepare for international competitions.

Yu said the current three-conference format used since the 2010-11 season has made it challenging for Gilas Pilipinas to prepare in past tournaments, including this year’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena in July.

It has also forced the league to play five to six times a week in order to fast track the conference like the recentlyconcluded Commissioner’s Cup instead of the usual three playdates per week.

“Ganun nga ang lumalabas, parang minamadali na matapos yung tournament, nagiging siksik masyado yung schedule. Minsan pati yung mga tao nagugulat na may games ng Tuesday or Thursday,” said Yu, whose Rain or Shine team he co-owns with Terry Que recently won the Commissioner’s Cup.

“Another concern e yung mga players na napapa-sama sa national team, yung iba talagang nasasagad, napa-pagod. It results sometimes to injuries kasi parang walang pahinga halos,” he added.

The two-conference format was implemented from 2004 to 2010 during the terms of Noli Eala and Sonny Barrios before reverting back to the current three-conference schedule upon the entry of Chito Salud as commissioner.

It was also during the time when the PBA revived its support to the national team, resulting in a silver medal finishes in the 2013 and 2015 FIBA Asia Championship, and a berth in the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain.

Yu said he already instructed Mamerto Mondragon, a former PBA chairman and Rain or Shine’s representative to the board of governors, to discuss the matter in the next board meeting.

“Of course, it needs the board approval. The owners should also be consulted, so we’ll try to have a proposal through Atty. Mondragon to the board,” added Yu, who co-owns Rain or Shine with Terry Que.

Asked for comment, current PBA Commissioner Chito Narvasa said that the important thing for the teams is to have their maximum exposures in each of the three conferences.

“It will affect their exposure for a year, so most likely, they will use that as evaluation. Because you know, it’s a business decision actually,” said Narvasa.