The SMC League

Posted by Jaemark Tordecilla on February 8, 2010 at 18:49 | Comments (28)

After a crazy quarterfinal round, the stage is set for the PBA Philippine Cup final four. The cast features 3 teams that belong to the San Miguel Corporation, which again reinforces perceptions by the league’s critics that the PBA is an SMC league. Some even say that the PBA is set up so that SMC teams would always end up on the winning end of most tournaments.

The grand conspiracy argument doesn’t hold much water. If it were true, there’s no way Sta. Lucia would have won the 2008 Philippine Cup over Purefoods in a close seven-game series wherein James Yap was suspended for one game for the same flagrant 2 penalty called on Ranidel de Ocampo last Friday. Imagine David Stern suspending Kobe Bryant on an iffy call in an NBA finals series against a team like the Milwaukee Bucks.

That doesn’t mean to say that SMC teams do not have an advantage. The PBA landscape today gives the rich teams a leg up when it comes to acquiring talent, and each of the SMC teams have taken advantage to build up its arsenal.

By my count, Ginebra, Purefoods, and San Miguel have acquired a total of 19 players through lopsided trades over the past 5 PBA seasons. The trend started prior to the 2006-07 season, when Ginebra and San Miguel ransacked the roster of erstwhile sister team Coca-Cola just before the corporation let go of the franchise. Over the next several years, each SMC team found more willing partners in Red Bull and Air 21 who would let go of their star players for a song.

Total player acquisition of SMC teams through lopsided trades, by year

Total player acquisition of SMC teams through lopsided trades, by year

Player acquisition of each SMC team through lopsided trades, by year

Teams involved with SMC teams in lopsided trades, by year

	Acquired by	From	Season	Notes
Marc Pingris	Purefoods	Air 21	2005-06	Traded to San Miguel for Enrico Villanueva in 2008, acquired back by Purefoods in 2009
Rudy Hatfield	Ginebra	Coke	2006-07	Went off the deep end after leading Ginebra to a Philippine Cup championship
Billy Mamaril	Ginebra	Coke	2006-07
Rafi Reavis	Ginebra	Coke	2006-07	Traded to Purefoods in 2009
Ronald Tubid	Ginebra	Air 21	2006-07
Lordy Tugade	San Miguel	Red Bull	2006-07
Enrico Villanueva	San Miguel	Red Bull	2007-08	Traded to Purefoods in 2008, traded to Ginebra in 2009
Larry Fonacier	San Miguel	Red Bull	2007-08	Traded to Alaska in 2008
Junthy Valenzuela	Ginebra	Red Bull	2007-08
Mick Pennisi	San Miguel	Red Bull	2008-09
Rich Alvarez	Purefoods	Red Bull	2008-09	Traded to Ginebra in 2009
Cyrus Baguio	Ginebra	Air 21/BK	2008-09
JC Intal	Ginebra	Air 21/BK	2008-09
Doug Kramer	Ginebra	Air 21/BK	2008-09
Homer Se	Ginebra	Air 21/BK	2008-09
Don Allado	Purefoods	Air 21/BK	2008-09
Celino Cruz	Purefoods	Air 21/BK	2008-09	Traded to Ginebra in 2009
KG Canaleta	Purefoods	Air 21/BK	2008-09
Arwind Santos	San Miguel	Air 21/BK	2009-10

The data does not reflect the indirect benefits of one SMC team acquiring new star players to its sister teams. For example, San Miguel benefitted when Ginebra acquired Hatfield, Mamaril, and Reavis from Coke, because it opened the door for the Beermen to trade for Ginebra’s Rommel Adducul, who had become expendable. When San Miguel acquired Villanueva, Adducul was shipped to Purefoods. Pingris found his way back to Purefoods from San Miguel this season after the arrival of Santos to the Beermen’s camp.

I also did not include in the table the first round draft picks acquired by the Beermen from Coke during the ransacking. San Miguel used the second overall pick in 2007 to draft Samigue Eman, and the third pick in the 2008 draft to trade for Jay Washington. These were non-trivial assets.

Of course, it’s not just the SMC teams doing this. Talk N Text has been just as brazen about stockpiling talent over the past several years. Another rich franchise, Coca-Cola, seems to be going in that direction.

Meanwhile, the Photokina (Red Bull/Barako Bull) and Lina (Air 21/Burger King) franchises have had no scruples about letting their players go to the highest bidders. Sta. Lucia, a franchise beset by financial difficulty, might be going down the same path. In the PBA board, only Alaska and Rain or Shine might be inclined to pursue changes to the system, and even then they are vastly outnumbered.

There hasn’t been nearly enough outrage from the fans. I tried to incite outrage when Burger King sold off Santos to San Miguel, but it was met by general apathy. The Filipino basketball fan’s mindset is rarely about playing fair, and mostly about getting an advantage at any cost. It runs true from college basketball – seriously, check out the message board discussions on high school prospects by fans of elite schools – up to the pros. Hell, think about how Smart Gilas fans wanted Japeth Aguilar on the team, at any cost, relationships be damned.

We want our teams to cut every corner to get the best players. Should it come as any surprise when they do exactly that?

Comments (28) | Trackbacks (6)
Tags: Air 21 Express / Burger King Whoppers, Alaska Aces, Arwind Santos, B-MEG Derby Ace Llamados / Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants, Barako Bull Energy Boosters / Barako Energy Coffee Masters, Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings, Basketball, Cyrus Baguio, Japeth Aguilar, Jay Washington, Marc Pingris, Philippine Basketball Association, Powerade Tigers / Coca-Cola Tigers, Rain or Shine Elastopainters, San Miguel Beermen, Smart Gilas Pilipinas National Basketball Team, Sta. Lucia Realtors, Talk N Text Tropang Texters

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Comments

#1 erick on 2010-02-08 19:16 (Reply)

wow.. i didnt think na ganito ka garapal un.. nice entry sir! di na talaga uso ang salary cap sa pba..

#2 Rafe on 2010-02-08 21:34 (Reply)

Nice work here. I hate to suggest more work for you after you clearly have done so much, but if you're up for adding an appendix to this report, you might consider including the players that SMC teams gave up in these deals. If readers like the previous commenter think that it looks garapal now, just wait till they see the murderer's row of bench talent San Miguel teams gave up to acquire players like Arwind Santos, Cyrus Baguio and the H-Bomb. The example I remember most clearly is the Villanueva/Adducul swap in 2007. What player did Red Bull end up with after all was said and done? Don Camaso! The lunacy of this deal may have faded over the past two and a half years, since Villanueva has never looked as good as he did at Red Bull, but back then he was coming off a Mythical First Team season and Best Player of the 2005-6 import conference, and the outrage in some PBA locker rooms was intense.

Personally, I am less dismissive of PBA conspiracy theories. I know they are frowned upon by us serious commentators, but I don't think they should be. It's hard to watch PBA playoff series (not just the most recent TNT/BGK series) and not conclude that San Miguel teams are being favored by the calls. That doesn't mean teams should quit and walk out, but I still think it's a problem. That problem, however, exists in the NBA, the US NCAA and I'm sure every other league as well. When I see the Cleveland Cavaliers play, some of the calls (and especially the non-calls) they get make it easy to drift into dreamland and imagine I'm back in Araneta, watching the Beermen.

#2.1 jaemark on 2010-02-08 22:53 (Reply)

i think ginebra gave up aries dimaunahan in the hatfield trade.

maybe it's just me, but i'm not as sensitive/perceptive to referees' calls when i watch basketball. it could be a huge blind spot for me, but game to game? it all just seems so random. here's an idea: maybe pba referees just aren't that good.

or maybe it's because i root for an smc team. i dunno. but purefoods has always been the red-headed stepchild of danding's empire (look at the graph, they didn't even start buying wholesale until last season, all they got were beermen hand-me-downs), so it hasn't felt so much like i'm part of the privileged class. and yeah, i know you'd throw the missed travel call on kerby on the adducul layup... whatever.

btw, my favorite part of the camaso trade was that he played like an all-star when he went to red bull. yeng guiao magic!

#3 Angrypeople on 2010-02-08 22:25 (Reply)

Great, great article .... dont even get me strated on the College scene ...... agent Mike Gonzales be damned.

You are correct. What's very tragic in all of this, is that the SMC stranglehold on talent & their evil machinations are very obvious .... yet the general public pays no mind.

Too many valid arguments & facts to support this SMC conspiracy:

1.) SMB way above the salary cap, given it's lineup composed of players perceived to be receiving max salaries.

2.) COKE conveniently gave away their star players to sister teams just before it disassociated from SMC control.

3.) If a tally is made of PBA teams that play on the 2nd game (primetime) slot ..... I'm thinking that GINEBRA will come out on top.

4.) Damm, even Cone, Uytengsu & TnT guys have been quoted before on their doubts on certain games between SMC sister teams.

5.) Many more ....

KEEP WRITING STUFF LIKE THIS. THANKS.

#3.1 jaemark on 2010-02-08 22:33 (Reply)

i would take a little issue with calling SMC "evil" because that's precisely the point i'm trying to make... it's not SMC per se, but the way the league is set up today. there's just no incentive for them not to do what they do, just like Talk N Text keeps buying superstars off BK/Air 21 every year.

i personally don't see the problem with having Ginebra playing in the 2nd game. every other league in the world, including the UAAP and the NBA, highlight their most popular team, and i honestly don't mind the PBA doing that.

#3.1.1 Angrypeople on 2010-02-08 23:02 (Reply)

Yup, evil is a strong word .... but they are machinations just the same .... bring as much talent to ensure a winning season every year & look good while doing it.

Great stuff here .... keep on writing articles like this.

#4 Legendary Skyflakes25 on 2010-02-09 00:54 (Reply)

Let's put it this way. Red Bull and Air21/BK have been selling their franchise / marquee / superstar / talented players as if they were slave traders. LOL

Here is Air21's list:

Yancy de Ocampo (2002 1st overall pick) - to TNT
Ren Ren Ritualo (2002 8th overall pick, ROY ) - to TNT
John Ferriols (2003 12th overall) - to TNT
Marc Pingris (2004 3rd overall) - to PF
Ranidel Ocampo (2004 4th overall) - to TNT
Jay Washington (2005 1st overall) - to TNT
Mark Cardona (2005 5th overall) - to TNT
KG Canaleta (2005 6th overall) - to PF
Arwind Santos (2006 2nd overall) - to SMB
JC Intal ( 2007 4th overall) - to BGK
Doug Kramer (2007 5th overall0 - to BGK
Yousif Aljamal (2007 8th overall) - to TNT
Marvin Cruz (2007 14th overall) - to Coke
Mark Borboran (2008 6th overall) - to Alaska
Japeth Aguilar (2009 1st overall) - to TNT

Fedex/Air21/BK have been trading them away as if they have no use.

If you could only retain these players, you have a very, very formidable lineup.

But sadly, they were treated as commodities. How much was the cash considerations involved in all those transactions? You don't trade your rookie picks for nothing though.

#5 Legendary Skyflakes25 on 2010-02-09 01:08 (Reply)

BTW, the only untradeable player in BK lineup is the franchise player himself, The Manugang! lol

#5.1 Angrypeople on 2010-02-09 01:38 (Reply)

Hehe ..... this is so true pre.

To be fair with RED BULL, they only went to their "giving spree" when the Photokina business started going downhill.

Damm Extra Joss, Cobra & other cheap energy drinks to hell.

As for AIR21, I began to doubt the seriousness of this franchise the moment they drafted Ferriols ..... It was Lina or Alvarez who said on the interview that they were drafting Ferriols primarily due to his good looks which attracts fans.

I swear on my death bed they said this during draft day. Hehe.

#5.1.1 Legendary Skyflakes25 on 2010-02-09 03:35 (Reply)

Yes, I heard that one, too! lol

#5.1.2 spectator_00_ on 2010-02-09 15:30 (Reply)

on air21's reason for drafting ferriols...

then again, my friend, that's the exact, same reason why purefoods isn't letting go of gregorio. :p

seriously, it appears factors considered in forming a team in the pba, aside from aiming to be competitive on the court, is to try to adhere to whatever image the franchise wants to project...

ginebra, for instance, with a product targeting the working class, always adhere to their 'never say die' spirit.

on san miguel beer amassing high profile players, despite their already formidable line-up, it's more of a statement. being the flagship product of smc, they want to maintain the image of superiority, thorugh their players' popularity. if being competitive on the court is their goal, matagal na nilang pinakawalan si seigle.

sa purefoods, it seems they're trying to project that wholesome, squeeky clean image. kung pagandahang lalake lang, all-star line-up talaga ang purefoods - from the coaching staff all the way to their bench players. kaya di talaga matatanggal yan si gregorio unless pakawalan ng RoS si caloy garcia.

...at yan din ang dahilan kung bakit hindi ida-draft ng purefoods si barroca. :p

#5.1.3 mrskasica on 2010-02-10 04:08 (Reply)

I blame yeng guiao. he kept developing those role players, which made it easier for RB to give up their star players. Kasi, kahit basura ang ibigay nila kay yeng, ginagawa nyang ginto. And the cycle continues (well, until yeng left them). :D

#6 dondeekenz on 2010-02-09 10:30 (Reply)

nice one here. i hope this write up lands in the broadsheets. uhm, maybe QH rips this one off? hehehe, i doubt if he's got the balls to write one like this of j's.

great! i hope you're still gulping redhorse or pilsen or sml after a hard day's work, lol :)

#6.1 jaemark on 2010-02-09 16:21 (Reply)

what are the odds? hehe

#7 James Ty III on 2010-02-09 11:29 (Reply)

Jaemark, the other PBA teams trading players to San Miguel teams should be blamed because they were the ones who drafted these players, yet they let them go in the end.

In fairness to the SMC teams, they did not ask for these players. It was the weak teams that let them go to the SMC teams.

#7.1 jaemark on 2010-02-09 16:20 (Reply)

oh, i'm pretty sure the SMC teams asked for the players. they're not innocent bystanders here. especially since they're bidding against Talk N Text too.

#7.1.1 Legendary Skyflakes25 on 2010-02-09 17:04 (Reply)

it takes two to tango.

and to make an analogy, if we are to castigate and punish the user, do it even more to the pusher.

#7.1.1.1 jaemark on 2010-02-09 17:57 (Reply)

rather than "user-pusher", a more apt analogy would be "client-callgirl".

#8 cptupas on 2010-02-09 14:04 (Reply)

interesting read jaemark.

#8.1 jaemark on 2010-02-09 17:58 (Reply)

thanks. good work on the pba coverage, btw.

#9 KG21 on 2010-02-09 15:26 (Reply)

The only problem I can see here, masyadong maluwag ang PBA sa mga trades, pinapabayaan lang i-monopolize ang liga ng may mga perang teams. Dapat ilabas nila sa public ang totoong salary caps ng mga PBA teams!

#9.1 Legendary Skyflakes25 on 2010-02-09 15:38 (Reply)

the pba has a very interesting rule on salary cap: if the player is placed in the injury list, his salary is not counted in the cap.

#9.1.1 Joey_Escalera on 2010-02-10 09:14 (Reply)

They are trying to make it different from the NBA so that the league won't be accused as a copycat of the American pro league.LOL

But seriously speaking, the PBA has to rectify this situation to balance the competition of the league. If not, then expect not-so-wealthy teams to languish at the botton of the standings. Aside from that, faking injuries could be common in the league to help add superstars in the team.

#10 Joey_Escalera on 2010-02-12 06:28 (Reply)

The only problem why SMB has underachieved inspite of its powerful line-up is its coach - Siot Tanquincen.

The same is true with Purefoods. It has also underachieved despite of its talented line-up due to its coach - RG.

While Barangay Ginebra, the supposedly "weakest team" among the three SMC teams have a great coach in Jong Uichico.

All coaches were probably put in place to balance the competition in the PBA with the other non-SMC teams.

Whether that was done in purpose or not, we definitely have no idea. LOL

#10.1 Angrypeople on 2010-02-20 19:32 (Reply)

I consider Uichico a good coach but definitely not great ....... note that this guy never handled a team with inferior talent.

Anyone who had a prime Danny Siegle will always compete for the championship.

Uichico was cared-for by Danding since he was in College for chrissakes ...... then Northern Cement then to the pros, then finally into coaching.

When Uichico was La Salle coach, Danding even had Ron Jacobs behind the bench for good measure.

Check out the last play of the UAAP '98 finals between FEU & La Salle ..... Ron Jacobs was practically calling out the plays during the last quarter.

#10.1.1 Angrypeople on 2010-02-20 21:01 (Reply)

I almost forgot ........ a prime Ildefonso, a prime Racela, a prime Pena, a prime Belasco, a prime Abuda, etc.

#11 American Virgin on 2010-02-18 11:36 (Reply)

Arwind Santos was sold to SMB for 20 million pesos.

#12 American Virgin on 2010-02-20 13:23 (Reply)

Also, I don't think you can involve coke in these 3-way deals. Plain wrong, IMO.

You need to get your facts straight, sir! The Coke team has never used itself as a conduit for sister team trades since being sold by the SMC.

SMC traded Coke's start players before they sold the right to manufacture Coke.

After being sold by SMC, Coke has never participated in this sister team trades.