A FORMER PBA player who won multiple championships during his prime said its high time that Asia’s first ever play-for-pay league undergoes a major ‘rebranding.’
Given declining gate attendance and the competition being offered by other platforms, the league, celebrating its 50th anniversary year this season, can’t just go on offering the same menu day in and day out, according to the cage great.
The now retired player added it didn’t help any that lowly teams such as Titan Ultra, Terrafirma, and guest ballclub Macau Giant Pandas were losing games by a mile during the eliminations of the season-ending Governors’ Cup.
READ Friendship takes backseat for high school teammates King, Murphy
“Masakit sa mata, masakit sa paningin,” said the former player in a talk with SPIN.ph, adding it’s a turn-off and an eyesore for basketball fans seeing teams losing by as many as 50 or 60 points in a professional league.
The player felt allowing Macau to play for another conference was a wrong move for the PBA.
A marketing graduate from one of the country’s reputable schools, he said the league should start considering playing more of its games outside of Metro Manila, and not just in Antipolo or Montalban as had been the practice in recent years including in this 50th season.
“Masyadong saturated ang basketball dito sa Manila. So why not bring your product to the provinces,” said the player, comparing the PBA to the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) which has been bringing action to the provinces such as Ilocos, Bacolod, and of late, in Cebu at the newly-opened SM Arena Seaside Cebu.
“Around 19,000 yata yung crowd ng volleyball nung naglaro dun,” he said. “So why not schedule a [Cebu] game where June Mar Fajardo will be playing or Roger Pogoy and Calvin Oftana, the three players being proud natives of Cebu.
“Iniisip nila yung gastos, but you’re promoting your brand, your players, your teams. So from a marketing point of view, mako-compensate naman yun doon.”
The player added it’s time for the league's bigwigs to start thinking outside of the box, given the changing times.
“Basketball pa rin naman yung binebenta mo, pero dagdagan mo naman ng ibang flavor, ng ibang spices,” he said.
The PBA great said he has a lot of ideas in mind on how to rebrand the PBA, but is leaving everything to the league’s think-tank to do so.
If there’s any. - Gerry Ramos
Writing's on the wall for college coach
A prominent head coach in the collegiate ranks may be coaching his final games for his current school.
A source from within his team shared with SPIN.ph that the coach has already come to terms with the possibility that this varsity season could mark his last dance with the program.
“We kind of knew na rin naman. The writing’s on the wall na eh,” a source said.
The coach's team has remained in the thick of the postseason race in his league, but his standing within the school has long been under question.
He has not been the most popular figure among some patrons, alumni, and backers of the program, with the lack of support becoming perhaps the clearest sign that change could be on the horizon.
For now, the coach remains focused on the season at hand. But behind the scenes, all signs point to an ending that may already be taking shape. - John Mark Garcia
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
