The management of Batangas City Athletics-Tanduay went up in arms after losing home-court advantage on the heels of its team’s latest win over the Zamboanga-Family’s Brand Sardines late Saturday night and had to wait until the wee hours before heaving a sigh of relief.
Through the intercession of MPBL commissioner Kenneth Duremdes and the approval of league founder and chief executive officer Senator Manny Pacquiao, Batangas City was able to regain the home-court advantage and thwarted the plans of Zaldy Realubit, the league operations’, head, to change the schedule at the last minute.
In a statement, Batangas City Athletics management expressed their displeasure on how Realubit “unprofessionally” handled the situation.
The league executive, according to team manager Gerry Tee, left without addressing the issue concerning Batangas City’s protest of his decision to change the schedule at the last minute.
Commissioner Duremdes stayed on and resolved the issue and got an approval from Senator Pacquiao to give the Athletics the home-court advantage due them.
“Very unprofessional,” said Tee, who had to call up Realubit to get his explanation as to why the schedule was changed. “The home-court advantage is very sacred to us and there’s no way we’re going to give it come hell or high water.”
Assistant team manager Jean Alabanza added that there was an initial schedule sent to them last March 26, which stated that Game 3 of the do-or-die match in the north division will be played on Monday in Bataan, while Game 3 of the south division will be held on Tuesday in Batangas City.
“Ever since, Senator Pacquiao was telling all of us that the MPBL should be patterned after the NBA. How come you will put the other series in the northern division. Eh ‘di nawala ‘yung home-court advantage namin? Hindi excuse’ yung sinasabi niyang ‘para makatipid.’ Bayad na ‘yan kasama sa block time paanong para makatipid? That’s a lame excuse,” added Tee.
Tee said that although they now regained the home-court advantage as an incentive for finishing second in the south division against the No. 6 seed Zamboanga team, he still has apprehensions, citing the connection between Realubit and Bai Cristobal, who is now team consultant of their rival squad.
“Realubit was the one who brought in Cristobal, who became the technical head until early this season,” added Tee. “He still has his influence on the referees who are officiating there. For the sake of delicadeza, Realubit should inhibit himself from making decisions as far as technicality issues are concerned. As for Bai Cristobal, he should not be in any way, be given a chance to become an official of the MPBL because of his track record. Malit lang ang mundo ng basketball and alam na alam namin ‘yan.”
Tee also took a parting shot on Realubit, assistant commissioner Satar Macantal and Emer Oreta.
“We are wary and concerned about our remaining games. The anomalous practices, conflict of interests of erring officials like Zaldy, Satar and Emer should be stopped. They have bad intentions and they are destroying the foundation of this young league. These people are overly ambitious and with no morals. They are dangerous,” was the fighting words of Tee. “I say that we owe it to the legions of fans of the MPBL who stay late to watch how we conduct ourselves. We owe it to them to be gentlemen inside and outside the court.”
The team executive encouraged the “erring officials” to do the right things that would help improve the league more.
“Do the right things and make things right while we continue to evolve in our young existence. Let us approach every game with honor for this is the essence of sportsmanship. Remember that when we play pick up games even without refs, we play on an honesty system. This is the hallmark of basketball and it’s how our MPBL games should be played with dignity in the spirit of sportsmanship. It should start with these officials. They should be trustworthy,” added Tee.