Alaska chief's comments spice up PBA Press Corps Awards

Two years ago, Wilfred Steven Uytengsu stood proud in front of mediamen, officials of the Philippine Basketball Association and guests during the PBA Press Corps Awards Night. He delivered an important message regarding the unfair treatment by media of athletes who failed to bring home a medal from their Beijing Olympics campaign. This time, even the PBA and some of its member squads did not escape the strong words of the Alaska Milk chief executive officer and team owner. “If the oldest professional basketball league in Asia deserves to have the respect of a broader audience, then it must toe the line," said Uytengsu in his speech. “Rules cannot be bent and one cannot simply look the other way when dubious trades are made. Selling prized talent to a richer team for the other team to make its own payroll is not good for the league. The balance of parity will be distorted and we will return to the old days of having two or three dominant teams," added Uytengsu. The sportsman/businessman said the salary cap, both team and individual, needs to be policed to create an equal playing field. “Is it really believable that some teams can be so talent-laden that 10 or even all 12 players on their bench (that would all be starters on most other teams) are within the cap and some of these players supposedly gave up max salaries to stay or move on to a given team?" asked Uytengsu. “What about players that are offered sizable amounts above and beyond the maximum individual cap? Where is the parity in that? If we need to review maximum amounts, then so be it. But you can’t have rules that are not enforced," added Uytengsu. Questions were also raised by Uytengsu regarding the “posers or Fil-Shams" playing in the league. "As long as we will continue to have Fil-Am players join the ranks of the PBA, isn’t it incumbent to have bonafide individuals playing and not “posers or Fil-Shams" taking jobs away from deserving local players or giving legitimate Fil-Ams a bad reputation?" said Uytengsu. A former PBA chairman, Uytengsu admitted that the comments he made were not what a normal acceptance speech would be like, but he did it for love of the PBA. “I felt they were statements that needed to be made since they have been whispered about, discussed on blogs and felt by many. I hope media will now talk about the elephant in the room and help make the PBA an institution we can be more proud of," added Uytengsu, who won his second Executive of the Year award, which he dedicated to the entire Aces squad. “I’d like to thank the PBA Press Corps for the recognition last night, but the credit really goes to our team -- the players, coaching staff and front office -- for their determination, hard work and team work," said Uytengsu, who first won the award in 1998 when Alaska won two of the three conferences that season. Alaska is known for executing the famed triangle offense used by Tex Winters and Phil Jackson with the Chicago Bulls of the 1990s and the Los Angeles Lakers up to this time. But for Uytengsu, his partnership with general manager Joaqui Trillo and coach Tim Cone has become their own version of a triangle. “I have been blessed to have a great coach in Tim Cone, complemented by an outstanding general manager in Joaqui Trillo. Together, our form of the triangle has worked as a partnership for over 20 years on a platform of mutual trust and respect that has built some amazing teams. And along the way, we’ve enjoyed some success," said Uytengsu. Reunion of cage greats Uytengsu’s comments nearly overshadowed the luster of the PBA Press Corps Awards Night where "The Maestro" Baby Dalupan was in attendance to help award the Coach of the Year trophy to Ryan Gregorio. Dalupan, who will turn 87 on October 19, is the winningest mentor in the PBA with 15 titles. “It’s indeed a special moment for the Purefoods organization to have ‘The Maestro’ Baby Dalupan and Ryan Gregorio on center stage. Coach Baby was the coach who gave Purefoods its first championship while Ryan was the last one to give us a title," said B-Meg Derby Ace/Purefoods board governor and current PBA chairman Rene Pardo. Dalupan congratulated both Gregorio and Cone, who disputed the Baby Dalupan Trophy in the season just past. “I’d like to congratulate Coach Ryan and Coach Tim. I want to share with Mr. Uytengsu that I was afraid of facing Coach Tim in a basketball game because he’s such a great coach," said Dalupan. Also present during the awards night were cage greats Bogs Adornado, Abe King and Chito Loyzaga, the new commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission, who was also the guest of honor. Adornado handed the Comeback of the Year trophy named after him to Kelly Williams. Others feted were Niño Cañaleta of B-Meg Derby Ace, Gabe Norwood of Rain or Shine, and referee Manolito Quilinguen. Canaleta was chosen as Mr. Quality Minutes, Norwood as the Defensive Player of the Year, anfd Quilinguen as the Referee of the Year. Promising newcomers Rico Maierhofer, Josh Urbiztondo, Ronnie Matias, Ogie Menor and Jervy Cruz comprised the All-Rookie Team. Willie Caballes, the Manila Bulletin assistant sports editor and former PBAPC president who passed away last April, was given a Posthumous Award. - KY, GMANews.TV