PBA offers appealing package to fans

by Noli Cortez
Malaya
October 9, 2007

An appealing package designed exclusively for cage fans.

This is what the PBA will offer in its coming 33rd season that, based on projections, promises more than the usual fare of chills and thrills.

"We have tried to exhaust every possible idea to come up with a present for our loyal fans," Interim Commissioner Sonny Barrios said in a press conference yesterday at the Sofitel Westin Philippine Plaza.

"We hope our fans will accept and love it because our offering is precisely designed for them," he added.

Part of the PBA package is to break a gnawing tradition—to lure back the fans after the dismal stint of the all-pro team in an international competition. The PBA-backed national team wound up ninth in last August’s FIBA-Asia championships.

To offset that concern is an offering featuring 10 teams that honed their competitive edge during the off-season, some rule changes to make the games more fast-paced and gripping, and several innovative marketing thrusts.

Smart also comes in not only as title sponsor of the season but the next two as well.

For the season-opening Philippine Cup, majority of the games will be split almost evenly at the Araneta Coliseum and Astrodome, with some stints at the Yanres Center in Antipolo, The Arena at San Juan and 10 provincial sorties thrown in.

"With these," said Barrios, "we are sure we will be reaching out to a broader fan base and our followers will be there in terms of live gate attendance and television viewership."

Competition parity should pose no problem, despite Magnolia (formerly San Miguel Beer) and Talk N Text being tagged as favorites because of their power-laden lineups for the Philippine Cup that kicks off this Sunday at the Big Dome.

The likes of Alaska, Purefoods and Ginebra should not be taken lightly, however.

"My orders from the team owner are for Alaska to finish consistently at least within the top three, so I intend to follow those orders," said Alaska team manager and PBA Vice-Chairman Joaqui Trillo.

The Fiesta Cup, set to start on Easter Sunday (March 23, 2008), should also be a humdinger with a novel handicapping system to spice up action and level the playing field.

The top eight teams in the Philippine Cup eliminations will be allowed to bring in an import each with unlimited height while the last two squads can have two imports, with one standing no taller than 6-foot-1.

Barrios, who was named by the board in an interim capacity after Noli Eala stepped down, is set to relinquish the post by the end of the Philippine Cup. Hopefully, a new commissioner–the league’s seventh since 1975–would have been found by then.

In line with the search for a new commissioner, the five members of the Selection Committee are set to impose an age bracket of 42-48 years old for each candidate when they convene on Oct. 16.

"That way, hindi kami ma-de-deluge ng mga aplikante para sa posisyon," said a member of the committee tasked with coming up with the criteria for the candidates.

Some teams, meanwhile, will start play this Sunday with their stars still in the injury list. Purefoods’ Noy Castillo will be out for three weeks due to an injured toe, Ginebra’s Mark Caguioa will miss his team’s first two games due to shoulder rehabilitation and teammate Rafi Reavis will not be 100 percent yet in their first game on Oct. 19, also due to a shoulder injury.

Brandon Cablay, meanwhile, has been acquired by Purefoods from Red Bull in exchange for the Bulls’ second round pick in next year’s rookie draft.