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Jan 08

Merger? I Don’t Think So!

by Tony L. Atayde
2,370 Views | 53 Comments

After a long time of being silent…I’M BAAAACK!!!

When word got out that there may be a possible merger between the UAAP and the NCAA, there were as many reactions as there were people who reacted. Though all the people I talked to felt that it is long overdue and that it would make college basketball even more popular that it already is, they were also unanimous in saying that it is not as easy as it may seem.

The news article that first broke the story stated that it is an initiative coming from the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas head, Patrick Gregorio. It was also mentioned that it came about as part of the centennial celebration of the University of the Philippines.

Can it be done? My colleagues here at Inboundpass.com dissected the matter on their Podcast airing and gave all the obvious reasons for the difficult task. The differences in rules and organizational set-ups between the NCAA and the UAAP, the difficulty in giving up the power, the scheduling, plus many other valid reasons makes this a daunting task.

A merger of the 2 premier collegiate leagues is in my opinion extremely unlikely in the near future. SBP Executive Director Pato Gregorio had a noble idea because it would definitely bring college basketball to new heights. It could easily surpass the PBA as the most popular basketball league in the country.

Unfortunately, what was not considered was that the NCAA and the UAAP are not just about basketball. Many other sports are involved and a merger would mean that each sport would have to be considered. That is a humongous effort that would have to be made.

Breaking tradition would likewise be hard to accept. The UAAP is definitely a notch above the NCAA in terms of popularity, especially with the La Salle – Ateneo rivalry. Last season’s 23,000 strong attendance of the last La Salle – Ateneo game is a testament to the popularity of the UAAP.

Though I agree with my colleague Kim Lesaca that the NCAA is run better and more professionally, the UAAP still is a bigger money maker. It counts as its members some of the largest universities in the country. UP and UE alone could have more students than the whole NCAA combined.

I don’t think the UAAP will just give all this up and merge with the NCAA. A merger will be everything to gain for the NCAA and nothing to gain for the UAAP.

The Collegiate National Championship would have been the answer. However it was so watered down that teams like STI even made it quite far in the tournament. With all due respect to my colleague Christian Soler, the absence of the UE, La Salle and Letran, 3 of the 4 finalists of the UAAP and the NCAA, really brought down the competitive level of the league.

If the SBP still wants to pursue this then it should get the commitment from both leagues to have the finalists play a best of 3 series for the UNIFIED CHAMPIONSHIP. This should be done immediately after the end of both seasons. Unlike the CNC that is held way after, holding it immediately after will make it easier on the teams involved. That sure would be better than an NCAA – UAAP All Star Game.

A substantial cash prize would also be a very strong incentive for the teams to play their best. In addition, the UNIFIED CHAMPIONSHIP series should be run by the SBP rather than private individuals or companies. The income generated could be the contribution of both leagues to Philippine Basketball as a whole.

Lastly, the key to the merger efforts is television coverage. Unfortunately, ABS – CBN may not have been fully consulted on the matter. Sponsorships to the 2008 season of both leagues have been sold already. Some sponsors may even have multi-year contracts. It does not make business sense for ABS – CBN to accept a merger at this point.

********************************************

Rumor Mill:

Heard that a top high school recruit may not end up in the UAAP but rather stay with the school he played in high school. Looks like academics is the main reason. I’m sure the school that is heavily recruiting him will be very blue if they don’t get him.

Is it true that a top coach in college basketball did not get a contract extension even after a record year? If this is true, then it is very sad since this coach brought a lot of excitement to the league his team plays for. It would be a total waste of everything he has done for the school he coached with total commitment and integrity. He has become one of the best coaches in collegiate hoops and he would have only gotten better.

That’s all for now!

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Posted in The Green Mind

Comments

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  • Frackat  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Wednesday, 3 September 2008 at 5:15 am

    wow :)
    its very interesting article.
    Nice post.
    realy good post

    thank you ;)

  • chellotte  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Thursday, 27 March 2008 at 12:07 pm

    I’m PRO merge

  • Blazer  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Thursday, 13 March 2008 at 8:17 am

    I hope we can have what is similar to the US NCAA’s March Madness. Kahit may PAC at ACC sila(lets say the UAAP and NCAA for us), they always have one national champion. Yung mananalo sa NCAA March Madness.

  • markus_cat  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Wednesday, 5 March 2008 at 3:06 pm

    An inter-league play between the NCAA and the UAAP is one step in uniting college basketball and basketball in general in the Philippines.

  • markus_cat  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Wednesday, 5 March 2008 at 2:57 pm

    On the merger. I would like to see an inter-league play between the NCAA and UAAP. Wherein, the top 3 teams (both NCAA & UAAP) in the elimination rounds from the previous season play a round robin preferably before the first round ends. To make it interesting, win or lose it will be counted in as part of their 14-game sked (either UAAP or NCAA). This is much like in the US NCAA, like the SEC-ACC Inter conference challenge.

  • blazers_14  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Saturday, 16 February 2008 at 3:38 pm

    I just would like to commend Fil-Oil for developing college basketball in the Philippines!

  • ok  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Monday, 4 February 2008 at 10:30 am

    mr. atayde.. ano na po ba ang nangyayari sa Fr martins cup?

  • oca  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Wednesday, 30 January 2008 at 2:02 pm

    In the inaugural staging of the CCL, Joe Lipa was interviewed and one of the things taken up was that there were 4 schools each from the NCAA and UAAP and 2 from Cebu.

    The CCL is supposed to be an event among champions yet there were losing semifinalist and finalist.

    Joe Lipa said that these leagues are considered the premier leagues in the country and there is the presumption of parity among the top finishers of the above mentioned leagues; where any of the finalists could have actually won their home league.

    Joe Lipa himself said that, and imo, any statement or argument against having losing F4 teams in the CCL, now CNC, must refute or dispel the presumption of parity as referred to.

  • tax_e_vasion  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Wednesday, 30 January 2008 at 1:02 pm

    Agree ako kay Justice, dapat mandatory na kasama ang final 4 ng NCAA at UAAP sa CNC at may penalty pag di sumipot, para wala nang lame excuses tulad ng “nagchampon lang yan dahil wala kami”

    D ako agree kay green mind na embarassing pag runner up ng UAAP ang magchampion sa 4 v 4 setup. Ibig sabihin lang niyon sila talag naging magaling sa CNC, at, at, at tama at maganda ang sistema ng refereeing sa CNC

    Yun yun!!!

  • spoof  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Friday, 25 January 2008 at 2:32 pm

    I was once for the merger, but as I analyzed the thing further plus the “uniqueness” of the two boards and the too short a time frame I think the only feasible time for a merger would be 2-3 years from now.

    I agree with a lot of people in suggesting the SBP should institutionalize and improve the Champions league. Get the top teams (i.e. Champions only) from all competitive leagues around the country. Then put in a wildcard each for Luzon Visayas and Mindanao.

    I’m not sure how the news came out.. if Pato was taken out of context or if there was a real intent of pushing the idea to the public. Bottomline, it didn’t do any good to the idea and the noble idea was shot down from the start.

    IMHO, the SBP should have thought about it first and excercised utmost discretion until all parties have done their respective analysis of the idea. Sayang talaga. Napilitan sila tuloy magdamage control.

    I can’t blame the UAAP for declining it for whatever reason. There was no plan, roadmap and initial guidelines to begin with… so there was no point in approving it, there was nothing to look at but an abstract idea.

    For now, I’d rather do a champions league. Then have SBP focus on improving the smaller provincial leagues that will slowly attach themselves to a true champion’s league.

    Thanks.

  • major dude  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Saturday, 19 January 2008 at 2:50 pm

    Green Mind, can i guess the answer to the second rumor? Is it Dindo Pumaren? I feel he’s the only who created a “hype” when he almost steered UE to win the championship. Frankie Lim will never be released by MVP-supported San Beda. Franz is just too effective in La Salle. Letran is home to Louie Alas forever. I dont think UST’s Pido Jarencio brings that much excitement though his sideline antics show otherwise. I’m not sure about Norman.

  • major dude  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Saturday, 19 January 2008 at 2:26 pm

    I feel that the failed “merger” proposal has nothing to do with the revenue being generated here, but basically a question of who’s going to be in control of the “new” league. Thats the primary. This was affirmed by the statement made by the UST representative speaking in behalf of the UAAP board. For now, its “to each his own”. The UAAP board should thank Ateneo and La Salle for elevating the status of their league. NCAA, on the other hand should create new ways on how to improve the games and the league itself, to regain its old glory back. And I think it has started with the resurgence of San Beda. But definitely, college basketball is still a great thrill to watch and be a part of.

  • major dude  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Saturday, 19 January 2008 at 2:00 pm

    (Grr said)recruiting foreign palyers is key to basketball glory, San Beda and La Salle wouldn’t be in the hoop firmament sans the imports.

    - Dude if you would check other teams in the NC and the UA (current and past), included in their teams are foreigners. Not all teams who paraded with foreign players won the championships. It is big issue if the enlisted foreign players become a domineering factor in winning games/championships. So, chill out with that one. We just have to live with whats stated in the rules. And if no violations are committed, then that should make it legal, And the teams winning it deserved to have the title. Stop whining and sour-graping. If you think the rules are flawed, then have it changed and ratified.

  • peace  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Friday, 18 January 2008 at 10:38 am

    lets just keep our players ncaa and lets see what will happen to the uaap who’s just depending on the organize basketball programs of juniors in the ncaa.

  • peace  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Friday, 18 January 2008 at 10:36 am

    too much pride on the uaap side…. tama yung isang comment.. ganyan ang nangyayari sa mga magagandang idea. napupuunta sa basurahan dahil sa politics, self interest. how good is that? 16 teams fighting for a single crown? excitement will not end in that format per sayang. down to the waste basket.

  • Grrr!  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Thursday, 17 January 2008 at 2:12 pm

    Recruiting foreign palyers is key to basketball glory, San Beda and La Salle wouldn’t be in the hoop firmament sans the imports.

  • Grrr!  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Thursday, 17 January 2008 at 1:58 pm

    Sayang talaga. The combined NCAA-UAAP 2008 Season would have been the Dream Tournament.

  • wye  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Tuesday, 15 January 2008 at 4:44 am

    Crap..don’t get me started with the faulty recruitment almost every school undergoes every year. When will the “palakasan” end? Schools, scouts and coaches aren’t doing a good job of scouting the country for elite talent.

    No offense to LaSalle but what were you thinking issuing out false documents to Tim Gatchalian and Marco benitez? Were they THAT good? I don’t think so..was it worth the year? certainly not.

    I think the NCAA should put a limit to the number of foreigners allowed to suit up. Perpetual, can’t you get anyone homegrown to suit up for you anymore that’s why you are so deperately trying to bring in as much foreigners as you can?

    All schools endure too much politics during recruitment. Not everyone is getting a fair shot..dahil anak siya ni ganito, inaanak siya ni ganyan..pamangkin ni sir..apo ni kumpare..nice huh???

    I have a couple of friends who went thru this..not that they’re bitter because they weren’t able to get in..it just is true.

  • Blazer  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Monday, 14 January 2008 at 9:12 pm

    And yes, there is no hope that David Webb to stay and play for Benilde since La Salle has already reported to have recruited the LSGH Senior.

    Regarding the turning down of the “merger” proposal by the UAAP, I dont see them(UAAP Board) tackling the real issues if ever a merger is to be executed, but rather excuses and the display of stubborn and haughty remarks. The only thing the BAP-SBP asks as of the moment was to at least talk and consider it. But I only heard blah blah blah. No substance whatsoever. The NCAA is willing to cooperate and to adjust to make this work even only for one year. At least now that the BAP-SBP would improve the CNL, then it might be taken seriously this time around. We dont need no merger then, lets just continue playing and improving the CCL/CNL, and the All-Star game and keep proving that NCAA basketball is at par, if not surpassing the quality of UAAP basketball. Nuff’ said.

  • Blazer  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Monday, 14 January 2008 at 9:04 pm

    The recruitment issue, I most certainly hope the alleged “retainment” of Buenafe in SSC-R would be the start of a trend of NCAA talents staying in the NCAA, if not in their respective alma maters. Imagine what would happen if Walsham and OJ Cua(both from Letran HS), Casio (San Beda, I think), and Ferdinand (LSGH-Benilde) of the champion team La Salle, would not have jumped from the NCAA? Things would have certainly been different. Not to mention Ateneo’s Salamat(SSC-R), and Arao (San Beda), among others.

  • prince  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Monday, 14 January 2008 at 7:54 pm

    nothing’s gonna happen. too much politics. haven’t we learned that good ideas that are good for the people but don’t make money for the powers that be never materialize? face it. just turn on the tv and watch that will-do basketball league they’re shoving down our throats.

  • prince  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Monday, 14 January 2008 at 7:43 pm

    all of this is a waste of time. nothing is ever going to be done. thats just how it is in the philippines.

  • prince  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Monday, 14 January 2008 at 7:43 pm

    all of this is a waste of time. nothing is ever going to be done. thats just how it is in the philippines.

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Tony L.
Tony L. Atayde

Very Opinionated. Very Green. Hate him. Love Him. It does not matter and he does not care. A Howard Stern in cyberspace. He bleeds Green, He is purely from La Salle – as a former writer and Assistant Vice President for Events of the DLSU Alumni Association. Played basketball and was on the track and field team for La Salle during the NCAA just don't ask what year.