Deja Vu? Johnedel Cardel's Appointment at Pureblends Raises Farm Team Concerns
The PBA's newest franchise, Pureblends, has reportedly named Johnedel Cardel as its head coach, a move confirmed by Spin.ph which states he's already handling practices. While the acquisition of the NorthPort franchise by Pureblends was initially hailed as a step towards fostering independent teams, Cardel's appointment, reportedly due to his friendship with owner Bryann Calantoc, now casts a shadow of doubt, creatively deducing that the "farm team" narrative might, regrettably, persist.
Cardel's previous coaching stint with Terrafirma—a team consistently linked to the San Miguel Corporation (SMC) bloc through a series of player movements and perceived acquiescence in trades—is precisely why his presence at Pureblends raises a red flag. For years, Terrafirma was seen by many as a willing participant in transactions that often benefited SMC teams, leading to the "farm team" label. Now, with Cardel, who presided over many of those transactions at Terrafirma, taking the reins at Pureblends, the whispers are bound to grow louder.
The PBA community had hoped that Pureblends would break free from the traditional power structures, emerging as a truly independent and competitive entity. The initial signs were promising: the declaration of independence from NorthPort's former management and coaching staff, and the excitement around potentially building a unique roster. However, bringing in a coach whose most recent tenure was with a team deeply embroiled in "farm team" accusations, and whose appointment is attributed to a personal relationship with the owner, inadvertently creates a perception that Pureblends might, despite its new branding, simply be another cog in the existing machinery.
The argument that friendship is the basis for the hire, while understandable on a personal level, does little to assuage fears of strategic alignments. Instead, it might be interpreted as a more subtle, yet equally effective, mechanism for collaboration with established powers, perhaps through less scrutinized pathways than direct ownership links.
While Pureblends has the potential to attract fans with star power like Calvin Abueva, the lingering question now is whether the team's on-court decisions, particularly in trades and player development, will genuinely prioritize Pureblends' success above all else. If history, under Cardel's previous leadership, is any indicator, the path to independence might be steeper and more convoluted than initially hoped. The challenge for Pureblends and Coach Cardel will be immense: to not only win games but also to decisively shed the "farm team" perception that now threatens to overshadow their fresh start.
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