PBA sets pillars for future

OSAKA – The PBA Board of Governors went through long hours of deliberation, discussion and debate to emerge from the league’s annual planning meeting at the Swissotel Nankai Hotel here yesterday with five pillars that will be the cornerstones of the future.

PBA chairman Ricky Vargas, reelected to serve a seventh straight year, disclosed the five pillars as raising the quality of competition, re-establishing the league as the source of the best talent for Gilas and net exporter of players in Asia, focusing on fan engagement, investing in ancillary business including the construction of an own arena and expanding the scope of social responsibility projects on a nationwide basis.

During the meeting, the Board also elected Ginebra governor Alfrancis Chua as vice chairman and retained Phoenix governor Atty. Raymond Zorilla as treasurer. PBA commissioner Willie Marcial was reconfirmed to continue his extended three-year term while general counsel Atty. Ogie Narvasa was reaffirmed as corporate secretary. Former vice chairman Bobby Rosales of Terrafirma was cited for his five years on the job, gaining recognition for his role in co-steering the league during the pandemic period and achieving record-breaking revenues in the 47th season.

Chua said he was surprised by his election. “It’s not about the position,” he noted. “Even without the position, I will always do my best for the PBA. With chairman Ricky as our leader, OK ang liga. Siya ang nagdadala sa amin, we follow his decisions and back him up. Whatever we do, it’s not for us, it’s for the fans and it’s not for the teams, it’s for the league.”

Vargas said in a nutshell, the Board tackled the election, reelection and reconfirmation of positions, reviewed the past season’s performance, approved the operating expense budget, set new revenue targets, began discussion on the 50th anniversary celebration and considered proposals on how to improve the game and how to enhance live fan engagement in venue with marching orders to execute. The PBA Management Committee also submitted a calendar of three conferences for next season.

“We’ve restated our mission to be the No. 1 basketball entertainment league in Asia,” said Vargas. “We know we’re dominant on TV and social media so the challenge is to bring fans back home to the PBA venue.”