This, after about near a decade of lopsided, shady trades and serving as conduit for mostly San Miguel Corporation-backed teams (San Miguel, Ginebra and Star). To say that we will finally be rid of the shady transactions with Barako's exit might be a bit too optimistic though, since business is still business in a league that has seen star players shipped to another for cash and under-the-table/ off-court agreements.
But hey, at least we got rid of the biggest culprit out there.
When was it? When they traded so many star players for next to nothing? For when they were truly given a chance to rebuild through the PBA Draft, they chose to spit on all of our faces and trade their first rounders away? When this team returned with an even shadier product that we honestly have not seen on the market, that was the end of it all. It was a farm team that owed so much to so many, from the outside looking in.
Last season, they made quite the impression as a bear competitive squad. Only for key guys to be traded. Denok Miranda had a stellar Philippine Cup before the mess that somehow sent him to GlobalPort, Alex Cabagnot back to San Miguel and Sol Mercado to Barako Bull. Then they acquired Joseph Yeo and Dylan Ababou at season's end and really made a run. Only for those guys to somehow lose minutes, ride the bench and be traded pre- this season.
They say that the players didn't mind being dealt here and there or wearing that shameful red, yellow and black. As long as they were being paid on time for services rendered, it was all good.
But what about the younger players who want glory and fame? What about RR Garcia who deserves to be on a winning team given his stellar play and college resume? What about Mac Baracael? JC Intal?
These players deserve a shot at winning. Willie Wilson has worked so hard for so long, now putting up 20-20s, to be wasting his career away at some garbage team.
Let us not confuse Barako Bull with Red Bull. Sure, Mr. George Chua is present for both teams, but the morals, the winning mindset and pride of being a competitive PBA franchise-- those traits separate the two Chua ballclubs.
Goodbye Barako and good riddance.
