PHOTO: SPIN.PH

AS fans continue to call for changes that can bring back parity to the PBA, fans toss around names of possible league commissioners.

One such name is crusading Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.

So, we asked Guiao if he is open to taking on the commissioner job if offered.

Sadly, the response was a big NO.

“Wala (akong plano mag-commissioner). Wala. Wala,” Pampanga vice governor and congressman said emphatically during the nightly The Snow Bomb Squad program on sports creator-based platform Playback.TV.

Guiao stressed that whoever succeeds Willie Marcial as the commissioner will have a hard time running the league, especially when it comes to implementing the pro league’s policies and guidelines.

“Hindi naman maso-solve ng commissioner yan (parity and balance) eh. Kahit sino pang commissioner ang ilagay mo dyan, hindi yan maso-solve yan ng commissioner,” Guiao said of the myriad problems plaguing the league.

“Matatali lang ang kamay ng commissioner,” added Guiao, who served as commissioner of the PBL during its glory days in the late 90s when stars like Asi Taulava and Eric Menk served as the amateur league’s top attractions.

Guiao only feels empathy for Marcial, who has been at the receiving end of lashing from fans, especially whenever trades deemed unfair are given the green light.

“Actually, nakakaawa nga si Willie kasi siya ang tumatanggap ng galit ng fans. Pero sa totoo, wala naman siyang magagawa dyan. Kasi board pa rin ang nasusunod,” he said. “Tingin mo ba kung di susunod si Marcial sa gusto ng board, tatagal siya sa pwesto?”

To get the lead back in the right direction, Guiao said it should be the team owners who need to sit down and talk.

“Yung mga ganyan kasing pinag-uusapan natin na mekanismo, sistema na gagamitin, rules and regulation na ii-implement, hindi rin yan kayang i-solve ni Commissioner Willie. Ang makaka-solve lang dyan yung team owners, yung mga may-ari,” Guiao said.

“Sila lang dapat ang mag-usap-usap dyan at sabihin nila na, ‘Lahat naman tayo maginoo, lahat tayo ay gentlemen, lahat tayo ay sportsmen. Ayusin natin to,’” he added.

If the team owners want to bring the league back to its glory days, they must prioritize fair competition and sportsmanship, he said.

“Ayusin natin to. Maging sportsmen tayo na talaga. Dapat magpagalingan tayo, iba yung magaling sa magulang. Akala kasi ng ibang tao, pagmagulang ka… magaling ka! Mali eh,” he pointed out.

“Kailangan, sikapin mong magaling ka, wag mong sikaping maging magulang ka!” Guiao reiterated.

‘Ang mali, mali’

Guiao was also one with the fans in believing that one of the reasons why the PBA has lost its luster is because of its lack of parity and unfair trades.

“Marami ng factors like marami nang ligang napapanood ang tao. So kung ganyan, ibig sabihin mas matindi yung competition, so dapat mas lalo dapat nating pagandahin ang PBA,” added the seven-time PBA champion coach.

Guiao said the league he sees now is far different from the PBA in its glory days.

“Oo, malaki na ang pinagka-iba. Pero alam mo hindi naman nawawala yung may mga gustong manalo, so gagawin ang lahat ng pwedeng gawin para manalo. Pero noon may guard rails. Kasi kung aalisin mo yung guard rails, eh chaos talaga,” he said.

“Etong nangyayari parang nano-normalize na natin yung mali. Normal na yung mali, manhid na tayo parang, ‘Sige pabayaan na natin,” he said. “Pero hindi dapat eh. Ang mali, mali.