Chito Salud, my new basketball hero

Saludo kami sayo Kume!

While Renaldo Balkman, Arwind Santos and the San Miguel Corporation continue to grab headlines with what has transpired the last few days, we should all take a step back, step out of our alliances and weigh things with a clearer state of mind.

We cannot help but continue to be impressed and in awe of PBA Commissioner Chito Salud; with the decision he made and the stiff penalties that he meted out just yesterday. We all knew that there would be hell to pay, even Balkman was aware of it, and when it was finally handed down there was just no escaping it. Some fans cheered while others jeered. The decision to fine Balkman and ban him "for life" was definitely far from being popular. But it was needed. We're not saying that it was the honest to goodness, "right" thing to do, but it was JUST.


Of course, to reach that verdict Salud most certainly got the help of the PBA board or at the very least did his research on the matter. The guy is, after all, a lawyer by trade and has years of experience on the matter specially when it comes to assessing certain, blurry situations.

Salud had to fine Balkman for his public outburst, there's no protesting that. The Php 250,000 fine was fair enough, considering the Petron Blaze Booster reinforcement went after all THREE referees, his two teammates (Ronald Tubid and Arwind Santos) and even an assistant coach.

The lifetime ban, as harsh as it may sound (given the period of time it covers), was only fitting. For now. Salud can always retract the ban by next season or if and when Balkman flies back to the country for work.

But for now, don't forget that Balkman is an import of NBA standards. He's not an end-of-the-bench guy, he's a solid rotation player and it showed in the games that he played in. The way he handled himself was totally unbecoming not only of a PBA reinforcement, but of an NBA veteran AND Puerto Rican NATIONAL TEAM PLAYER. We're not calling Balkman dirty, emotional yes, dirty no. But there's no room for those kinds of exchanges with officials and specially your own teammates with everyone-- women and children included, to see.

So Salud had to crack down on Balkman to protect the league. Had he chosen to simply fine Balkman, it would've hurt the PBA as a whole. Are we in a league that allows on court hooliganism? What keeps players from blowing up not only against their opponents but also against their own teammates? If Balkman escaped with a fine, the next guy wouldn't care less if he pretty much threw a chair at his own coach because he knows that he'll only be fined anyway.

That, plus we're talking about imports here. Balkman is not Filipino, so please quit with the Wyne Arboleda (punching a fan), James Yap (kicking an import) etc. connections. Different man, different case. You're forgetting that he pretty much put his hands on your fellow man, Arwind Santos, who is arguably the country's best two-way player.

Para ka na ding kumampi kay Floyd Mayweather pag sinakal niya ung utol ni Pacquiao, ung bano.

We love Balkman, we love his hustle and energy. The guy is crazy energetic and the closest we've seen of the guy is, well, Alaska Aces' rookie Calvin Abueva. But anyone would tell you that anytime you go after your own teammate, wounds are caused and those kind of things don't heal overnight-- not in the locker room, not after public statements. Santos is a good soldier and team captain for Petron, hats off to him. But he doesn't have to lie to us, we don't need any explanations from him.

Kumbaga sa liga, pag me dayo kami tapos nag aangas ng ganun, pinagsasabihan namin, binibigyan din namin kahit anong galing pa niyan. 

So Salud did what he had to do, even if Balkman's teammates- Santos included, were all right there behind him during their meeting. We haven't heard from Santos, and if he does speak out, he'll probably say all the right PR things again. But Salud took care of business for him and all.

Forget that it's Balkman that we're talking about here. What if Vernon Macklin of Barangay Ginebra went crazy and put his hands on Mark Caguioa? Or Denzel Bowles on "the face of the PBA" James Yap?

Pretty sure you'd see things much clearer then.

And the SMC threat to "re-evaluate" their positioning in the PBA?

Let them do what they have to do, but in our book, Salud did what was just. What was needed to protect the PBA and the whole of Philippine basketball.