When voting has become more of a popularity contest, it will certainly create more uproar than applause.
Take the case of the national elections, for example, in which those being installed in power are being convicted of a crime.
Yet, they have remained relevant because of their popularity.
The All-Star festivities — not just the Philippine Basketball Association, but also the National Basketball Association — is an example of how fans became more knowledgeable than the basketball experts.
This year’s NBA All-Star Weekend was a flop and it was the least-watched edition in history – the biggest decline since 2000 when the league had a lockout a season before.
The PBA had adapted an All-Star festivity similarly patterned at what the NBA has been doing, letting the fans decide on who to play.
Asia’s pioneering professional basketball league also veered away from the traditional North versus South or sometimes Veterans versus Rookies, Sophomores and Juniors set up that became major attraction to fans in general.
Now, we have Team Scottie and Team Japeth after Barangay Ginebra San Miguel teammates Scottie Thompson and Japeth Aguilar were chosen to assemble teams based on the pool of players voted by fans. It is like a rip off of what the NBA has been doing now — Team LeBron versus Team Giannis.
While it is touching for the PBA to get the fans more involved in an event made for them, it is also great to recognize that in building a team concept, it should also involve the brilliant minds.
There was a time when the NBA was letting fans decide the starters for both the East and the West squads in the All-Star games and the top two coaches in the elimination round in both conferences were installed to call the shots.
The coaches will then fill up the teams they will be coaching by selecting players whom they feel deserve a spot in the All-Star squad.
Which is why it is not surprising to see Maverick Ahanmisi of Converge showing his disappointment and probably even Don Trollano of NLEX, who were not included in the All-Star selection even though they’re playing the finest seasons of their respective careers.
Ahanmisi has stepped up his game and led the FiberXers’ local production in this conference alone as he has been averaging 20.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, three assists and 1.3 steals per game. Those were Most Valuable Player-type of numbers.
Trollano, on the other hand, averaged 11.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and three assists. Although his scoring output was actually lower compared to when he was playing for Blackwater, the 6-foot-3 forward is one of the main reasons why the Road Warriors had become a contender through the years.
For nostalgia’s sake, fans would be thrilled to see two-time Most Valuable Player James Yap back in the All-Star game or perhaps encourage him to join the three-point shootout contest and gun for a third title.
But isn’t it more deserving to have either or both Ahanmisi and Trollano playing in the festivity this season because they earned it?
Something must be done and the All-Star Game needs some tweaking.
We believe in the PBA then and we continue to show our faith in the league we all love.
