Sportscasters, sportsveejays

Gone are the days when sportscasters were just talking heads echoing the science of the games. Nowadays, as the National Broadcasting Network (NBN) talents have experienced and realized during the Samsung-PBA All-Filipino Cup, there’s more to sportscasting in the PBA than just basketball.

Senior anchor Sev Sarmenta was a track and field athlete one day as he ran in the oval of the Philsports Complex to open a game. Fellow sports columnist in The STAR and a well-respected PBA analyst, "The Dean", Quinito Henson was hero for a second when he posed with other historic figures at the Hamaka Park near the Ynares Center in Antipolo. Two-time Best Import awardee (1982, 1985), Mr. 100 Percent awardee in 1983, a grand slam coach, and currently one of the analysts in the PBA, Norman Black, proved he can do more than play, coach, and analyze a game when he did backstrokes in the air ala-Keanu Reeves in the "Matrix". Paolo Trillo felt like Spiderman as he mounted the top of the OB Van for a pre-game show. Even this writer felt like a concert queen at the Big Dome for one brief moment, singing borrowed lines from pop artist Geri Halliwell, "It’s rainin’ men! Alleluia!"

"The role of the pre-game show is to immediately attract attention to what the product is all about," reasoned director Fritz Ynfante, once introduced as a "walking institution" for his many contributions to Philippine television, particularly in the field of live television production. According to him, "If you don’t know Fritz Ynfante, you’re hopeless." He is well-known for his work with variety shows; although not a lot of people are aware that, like the rest of the Filipino population, he is a big basketball fan. "I started watching since I was wearing knee-pants in grade school."

Direk Fritz started his involvement in basketball coverage with Studio 23 where he worked as a consultant for the UAAP games. He also directed special events such as the opening ceremonies of the popular collegiate league. At the start of the 2003 PBA season, NBN chairperson Mia Concio hired the services of this hardworking director who recently celebrated his 40th year in the business last June. Since then, this "terror-director", as he is often tagged in the industry because of his demanding ways and strict work ethics, has introduced a lot of novelties in the coverage.

Direk Fritz believes that professional ball is all about entertainment. While the game is still the focal point, "peripherals can also be as entertaining as the basketball game itself." Which is why sportscasters like myself would now do things that we didn’t think we would and could in front of the camera. What used to be ready-shoot-deliver sports news-sequence before is now lights-camera-action! Sportscasters are now beginning to discover hidden acting abilities somewhere in their personality, and have begun sharing it with the public. The aim is to make the coverage livelier, more interesting.

Interviews with cagers are not just your typical "What’s your game plan?" Or, "How are you planning to execute your plays?" In-depth interviews during the halftime break are all about the player’s human side. What are his fears? What makes him laugh, cry? What turns him on or off? Questions are structured and aimed to "dissect and see his (player’s) heart," explained Ynfante.

And to the delight of fans, players like Ginebra Gin King Rommel Adducul ended up talking about former flame Assunta da Rossi; Alaska Ace talked about his childhood and South Carolina; and Purefoods’ Andy Seigle explained what stroke of genius struck him to purchase a jeepney instead of the usual luxury van.

While others embrace this re-invention of the PBA coverage, however, not a few are complaining about the intrusions during the game. The best thing was that the parallel broadcast gave viewers a choice. Those who preferred straight sportscasting, intensive stats and analyses, and serious courtside reports had NBN. IBC version is for the younger audience whose MTV-mentality has them looking for more than just action and the serious side of basketball.

Television is for the young. And it was this group that the marketing arm of NBN set out to tap from the very start. In terms of attracting attention of potential market, generating interest for the product, and making the coverage more entertaining, "We’ve succeeded," assessed Ynfante. The coverage had indeed been more entertaining, especially PBA on IBC. However, the means was not cost-effective. Contrary to what was projected, "There was no tangible addition in terms of advertising," revealed Bobby Arias, programming manager of NBN.