PBA: Comm. Salud cites 'lack of desire to compete' as reason for no battles for third place

If you're a San Mig Coffee or an Alaska Aces fan, wondering why there isn't a battle for third place between these two recently-eliminated squads in the PBA Philippine Cup, PBA Commissioner Chito Salud said Saturday in a statement that teams weren't giving it their all for third and thus such games would not interest fans.  

Salud, whose statement was released by the league's official Twitter account, said, "Over the years, the league has observed that teams that play for third are not a hundred percent out to give it their all

"This is understandable after the teams have just been ousted in a hard-fought semifinal series. Thereafter, they tend to just go through the motions in playing for third place."

The commissioner added though that such behavior was "consistent with normal human behavior," but concluded, "the lack of desire to compete under the circumstances does not interest the fans."

Earlier in the week, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters eliminated the San Mig Coffee Mixers, while the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters disposed of the Alaska Aces, with both series reaching six games.

The last time a battle for third place game was held was in the 2010 PBA Fiesta Conference, where the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters edged the Derby Ace Llamados 113-95, a season prior to Salud taking over as Commissioner. - AMD, GMA News