Is There A Need To Change The Number Of Fil-For Players Per Team?

The PBA has already relaxed their eligibility rules on Fil-foreign players, in an effort to lure more overseas-based prospects to its league.

However, thee haven't touch the more sensitive rule so far. This is the rule limiting the number of Fil-foreign players that a team can name to its lineup. It has been adopted to avoid power discripancy, but it was criticized as being outdated' and 'discriminatory' and its implementing guidelines 'confusing'.

There are reports that say the Commissioner's Office has revisited the controversial rule this year with the help of new legal counsel Ogie Narvasa and is in the process of preparing its recommendations to the board.

Any changes, if any, will have to be approved by the PBA board of governors.

So what should the PBA do? Is it really necessary? Is team parity more important to address right now?

As it is, the league has over the years steadily increased the number of Fil-foreigners a team can put in its roster. From the original five, PBA ballclubs can now put seven Fil-foreigners in the active lineup, plus one on the reserve list.

However, that has hardly appease critics who feel the 'outdated' rule is 'discriminatory' to mixed-race players and should be scrapped.