GAB Reminds PBA of Controversial Trade Between SMB and Kia

GAB REMINDS PBA OF IMPARTIALITY AND BALANCE FOR DRAFT

Lopsided trades could turn off fans

Games and Amusements Board (GAB) Chairman Abraham Mitra today called out the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) to remind the basketball body that the GAB is looking intently on how the coming draft will be done. 

“There are complaints about the KIA-SMB deal and we are intently observing. How the PBA will handle it will determine if the next season will excite or turn off fans,” says Mitra.

"We would like to have a balance between all teams which would help competitiveness and boost sales. We want more teams to grow their fan base. Fans troop to games with star players. The danger of declining ticket sales becomes real when stars are concentrated in only a few teams, ” added Mitra. 

The trade is reportedly taking place this coming weekend but the PBA has not hinted if the KIA-SMB  will be approved or not.

"KIA, Blackwater, Global port and Phoenix seem to need more stars in their team to be able to compete with the others. As in the past, lopsided matches affect public interest, gate receipts and revenues to the government. The yearly draft is normally an opportunity for weaker teams to get better players to hopefully even up the games."

The GAB is the government agency that regulates all professional sports in the country like basketball, boxing, football, golf, cycling, motocross, billiards, and e-sports. It is also the collecting agency of 3% of gate receipts and income from tv coverage contacts.

“We hope the coming draft will give teams with lower winning records the fair chance  to equalize themselves with the others,” he added.