Uytengsu issues stiff challenge to Salud

A man who never holds back in saying what he feels, Wilfred Steven Uytengsu issued a challenge to new PBA commissioner Chito Salud Wednesday night to curb irregularities in the league and make everyone involved in it even prouder. The outspoken Alaska Milk owner delivered his remarks after accepting the Executive of the Year award from the PBA Press Corps during its Awards Nights at the Gateway in Araneta Center.

“Rules cannot be bent and one cannot simply look the other way when dubious trades are made,” Uytengsu said referring to some lopsided trades in the past in his speech before several members of the league’s board, other awardees and Salud. “Selling prized talent to a richer team for the other team to make its own payroll is not good for the league,” he continued. “The balance of parity will be distorted and we will return to the old days of two or three dominant teams. “There are many examples of such trades that should have been scrutinized further and (that) would have revealed (that) there is more than meets the eye.” Uytengsu, along with former Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio, were the biggest winners of the night, with Gregorio taking home his third Coach of the Year trophy. Uytengsu, a two-time PBA chair, won the Executive of the Year award also for the third time. Uytengsu also batted for a review of the present team and individual salary cap systems, which,  he feels is being violated. “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,” he asked. “What about players that are offered sizeable amounts above and beyond the maximum individual cap? Where is the parity in that,” he continued. “If we need to review maximum amounts, then so be it. But you can’t have rules that are not enforced.” Uytengsu went on to say that the burden does fall on Salud to make things right and for all the governors who represent his fellow team owners to reflect on what is right. “I would rather lose with honor than win with shame,” he said.