Ed Daquioag, the tough guard out of UST, joins the growing list of quality PBA players now hawking their wares in the MPBL. Daquioag, a gamer who suited up for Terrafirma even after a fibula fracture, couldn't snag a renewal and now heads to Manny Pacquiao's regional league to team up with Pangasinan.
Daquioag is just one in a recent exodus. Mac Tallo, Carl Bryan Cruz, Prince Caperal, and Gab Banal all found themselves on the outs with their respective PBA squads before the Philippine Cup. Tallo lands with Abra after a blink-and-you-missed-it stint with Converge, while the lanky Caperal, jettisoned by Northport, joins him. Cruz finds himself with Manila after TNT said 'see ya later,' and Banal hooks up with Quezon after Blackwater decided it could do without him.
The plot thickens with the return of a few familiar faces. Paul Desiderio and Justin Melton - remember them? - are now teammates at Mindoro after bouncing between Blackwater and Magnolia, respectively. Rounding out the comeback crew is Rabeh Al-Hussaini, who suits up for Manila after a pandemic-induced hiatus from Blackwater.
This churn of decent talent raises a question: is the PBA getting a little too cozy with a 12-team format? Here's a league where veterans struggle to find spots, where proven guys like Daquioag and Caperal are deemed expendable. Look around the region, and franchise spots are a hot commodity.
The question isn't just if the Philippines can support more PBA teams, it's how much better the league could be with an influx of fresh faces, hungry cities, and a wider net for this pool of talented castoffs. The logjam at the bottom of the PBA roster might be a sign that it's time to think bigger.
Recent PBA Free Agency: PBA Free Agency: Top 3 Teams that should consider signing this 3-and-D Forward!
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