Big BAD champions?
THE Bay Area Dragons (BAD) are now sitting at the top of the PBA standings after defeating the Magnolia Timplados. There is a huge possibility that the guest team could win it all.
Some would say that it wasn’t a fair playing field for the Filipino teams, as the BAD is an EABL team, and they have different classifications of imports. The counter-argument is that the PBA needs this challenge, and rather than applying protectionist rules, the PBA should be the one to adapt with global standards. There were compromises though, as they limited BAD from fielding more than one world import in games.
For instance, the PBA is the only top tier league that has an All-Filipino Conference, or a purely local conference. Even China doesn’t have that, and we have known China as more isolationist than we are.
National dignity on the line?
As with all things Filipino, the move of adding the BAD was meant to harness Pinoy pride. It was also meant to show the PBA is going global, the branding they need to compete with the Japanese, Korean and Taiwanese poachers.
We don’t really get to see the dramatic flux of Filipinos fiercely cheering against the BAD, except for the Ginebra game, the most successful one from the PBA side. Then again, it’s Ginebra, and they always draw the crowd.
Will it be a slap on the face if the Chinese team won the championship? Should players take it personally? I understand that this is not Gilas in FIBA, but there is a foreign presence threatening our own league, right in our own turf.
While that should be outdated thinking in the business world, it should still matter in competitive sports, or territorial rights. Let’s hope our PBA teams will be able to stand up to the BAD team, show more resistance against China than our administration does.
‘Laddergate’
Speaking of territory, there was another territorial issue in the NBA. Conference rivals Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers met at the Wells Fargo Center (shameless shoutout to my day job) and after a chippy, physical game as expected, the Sixers took the home win.
One detrimental factor that led to the Bucks’ loss is Giannis Antetokounmpo’s missed free throws. This has led him to take extra free throws after the game. Then, he was rudely interrupted by Montrezl Harrell, who also wanted the space so he could “work out.”
When Giannis got the ball back, stadium staff brought in a ladder. Apparently, it’s routine after a game in almost every stadium. They need to recalibrate/realign the rims, tighten some screws, etc.
Giannis, in his own words, asked the staff for two more shots. His appeal was ignored, so Giannis pushed the ladder and it fell. Thankfully, it did not fall on anyone, and no one was hurt.
Practice in Philadelphia
The Philadelphia 76ers have a history with “practice” thanks to Allen Iverson. Iverson had his famous “we talkin’ about practice” rant and now we have “Laddergate.” In this case, two players were fighting over their right to practice.
Who was in the wrong here? Does the NBA have guidelines on what time they can use the stadium? Legendary players have been praised for practicing in the gym hours before tip-off time, and some would work obsessively like Giannis did. Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant were names that have been mentioned as examples for this.
There are some arenas that are busier than others. The Crypto Center, when it was still the Staples Center, housed the LA Lakers, LA Clippers, and the LA Kings of hockey. They definitely need the time to change the flooring, and even put ice on the floor if needed. In that case, they would really need to clear the area immediately.
Was that the case in this instance for Giannis? Apparently not, because Montrezl Harrell said he was going to work out. Was he just being territorial? Harell has always been the kind to pick fights, and a 10-minute per game guy confronting a two-time MVP shows his irrational confidence.