It was only a couple of decades ago, but the 2000s already seems like another era altogether. This is especially true when you look back at what the Philippine Basketball Association was like back then. In this series, we harken back to the time of two-network broadcasts, a two-conference format, Fil-Shams, and other events that defined the PBA in the first decade of the new millennium.
Most young PBA fans are probably not aware that the PBA came under fire in the early 2000s because of the "Fil-sham" controversy.
During this period, the credentials of several Filipino-American players were questioned. An inquiry by the Senate Committee on Games, Amusements, and Sports, which was headed by former senator Robert Barbers, was conducted to determine who among a number of Fil-foreigners had dubious documents at the time.
Among those investigated in the PBA, which was under the watch of then commissioner Noli Eala, were Sonny Alvarado, Davonn Harp, Rob Parker, John Ordonio, Asi Taulava, Dorian Pena, Eric Menk, and Ali Peek.
"When I came in 2003, the PBA was somewhat under attack. If you would remember during that time, the Fil-Am controversy was brewing. This was the time when there were a lot of allegations of of fake Fil-Ams, the 'Fil-sham' controversy," Eala told ESPN5.com, "and of course, the credentials of certain players were also questioned."
Because of the investigation, some players got suspended, while some were deported. Others, like Peek, were able to prove their Filipino heritage and stayed on.
Heritage in question
Peek recalled feeling extremely frustrated with the proceedings that were taxing not only for him, but for his family as well. His Filipina mother, who resided in Southern California, had to go back and forth to the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles to deliver his proper documents.
"If you imagine, this happened four, five times because they kept reopening the investigation. That was really frustrating for me," Peek told ESPN5.com over the phone.
"What also really started to get under my skin was then there's people out there doubting me. Call me everything you want, man, but I'm not a liar."
Fans doubted him, and whenever he thinks about it, it still pisses him off because "the one thing I didn't want was people questioning my heritage, questioning whether I was telling the truth or not."
How the controversy started
There was an influx of Fil-Am players before the turn of millennium, and Peek believed that was the time the "fakes" started coming in. But it was only after a few years when the issue intensified.
Several local players voiced out against the "Fil-shams". One of the most vocal was Jojo Lastimosa.
"I was vocal about yung mga 'Fil-sham'. Yung mga Fil-Ams I had no problem. Yun ang 'di nila maintindihan during that time. Akala nila na I am anti-Fil-Am," Lastimosa said in an interview on An Eternity of Basketball.
Peek, though, had no qualms about Lastimosa's sentiments.
"But you gotta understand the whole thing started with guys I actually admire. It started with some of the premier PBA players that time. You're talking about I think Jojo Lastimosa - he's a good friend of mine, I think Alvin Patrimonio, who I love competing against and to this day when I see him we say hello to each other. And you know what, Marlou Aquino was also one of the spearheads and I don't blame them at all," he said.
"Because I would be upset, too. If I'm a local player and I have more than enough reason to believe that there are people out there pretending something that they're not and they're getting paid a lot of great money for it? I'll be pissed off, too. So I understood where they're coming from."
The aftermath
One of those who were mistakenly deported, according to Peek, was former teammate Jon Ordonio.
"The truth is, some of the guys that came under fire and got deported actually have Filipino blood," he said. "(It was) humiliating because he had to be sent home. He was given a deadline to go home. And you imagine he's with his kids and he had to explain to his kids what happened. And I thought that was very unfair."
Amidst doubts of his Filipino heritage, Peek said "the media came hard on me in 2003," but he heeded his former coach Tim Cone's advice and elected to focus on things he could control.
Peek went on to play in the PBA for 16 years. He won six championships and a Best Player of the Conference award, before eventually hanging up his sneakers in 2014.
"I loved playing in the PBA. It's the best time of my life. I'm lucky because if it wasn't for my mother I probably wouldn't have had a basketball career. And if I did have a career professionally, it wouldn't have lasted that long," he said.
"So from that regard I'm very grateful that Pop Cola gave me a shot and gave me an opportunity."