Sports blessings in 2011 (Part 2)

Looking ahead to 2011 which begins in a matter of days, we see bright future of Philippine sports, as the combination of heroes old and new keep stride, Asia’s oldest basketball league remakes itself for a younger audience, and other sports belly up to the table to bring more attention to their campaigns to bring honor to the country.

PBA’s new place in the sun. It has been a long-standing proposal perhaps for two decades that the Philippine Basketball Association build its own coliseum. There are many obvious reasons for this. A facility generates revenue through gate receipts, rentals and advertising revenue. The league will no longer fall prey to scheduling conflicts with performances, holiday shows and other sporting events that book way in advance. The PBA can decorate its own venue, down to – at long last – even painting its logo on the center circle. Each NBA team has its own floor; even the Lakers and Clippers, who share Staples Center, each have their own trademark maplewood.

The league’s team owners, yes, team owners, are meeting in January to discuss the extent of each franchise’s involvement. A suitable coliseum that seats about 10,000 will probably cost upwards of P 1 billion, and some team owners are more gung ho about gambling on it than others. Remember that Mall of Asia is already constructing its own coliseum, due for completion in 2012. The first job is to decide on a location that will be easily accessible to public transportation along a main thoroughfare. A few years ago, the league started looking at property sequestered by the Quezon City government along EDSA near Quezon Avenue, right along the main artery of the MRT.

Moreover, the PBA will also have to look long and hard at its place in the firmament of Philippine entertainment. Since its television ratings peak in 1989, the league has struggled to maintain its lofty position as a television powerhouse. Of course, the explosion of new media has a lot to do with it, but the PBA can get on the bandwagon, too. The league has to appeal to a broader fan base, especially a younger audience, to stay front of mind. There are still revenue streams to be studied and platforms for growth. The PBA can look at professional managers outside its own family to see what opportunities are there. If life begins are 40, then the PBA still can get a jump on its second life.

Flash forward. Jumping back onto the radar is Nonito Donaire, Jr. After frustrations in getting name opponents, the dynamic former champion has been dispatching bigger opponents with regularity. As expected, he destroyed former world champion Wladimir Sidorenko in four rounds and set a collision course with current WBC and WBO bantamweight king Fernando Montiel, who has obviously been avoiding the Filipino Flash. It was Donaire’s 16th knockout in 24 straight wins dating back to 2001, and with it came the WBC Continental Americas bantamweight belt. A February date has been penned at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

Montiel, meanwhile, has been devastating, winning 11 of his last 12 fights, nine by knockout. It has become unavoidable that he face Donaire, who has shown he is comfortable at a higher weight. Donaire will have height and reach advantages against Montiel, but knows he is in for the biggest fight of his career. Incidentally, Donaire is 4-0 in world title fights.

Paeng and Pacman. The two staples of Philippine sports at its highest level: Manny Pacquiao and Paeng Nepomuceno, continue to leave a trail of enviable and unparalleled international accomplishments. They are the only two athletes among legendary and popular entertainment celebrities who have stars on the Walk of the Stars in Eastwood City. When you talk of globally-recognized athletes, you talk of Pacquiao and Paeng.

Nepomuceno, now one of the most respected coaches, travels the globe incessantly to certify coaches at different levels for the US Bowling Congress. He is still one of the most feared competitors out there, and holder of three Guinness world records. A superbly conditioned athlete whose mental toughness is still sometimes underestimated because of his friendly demeanor, Nepomuceno is a valuable pillar of the bowling community worldwide. In 2011, the left-handed giant will certify hundreds more coaches and continue to spur the growth of the sport everywhere. Both competitor and coach, he is a global ambassador for the sport. As a Malaysian national bowler once told this writer “Paeng is a god.”

Cebu steps it up. Expect 2011 to start showing the progress of the new programs being implemented by the Cebu City Sports Commission. Under new chairman Ed Hayco, the commission has demonstrated new levels of unity, purpose and cooperation, beginning with its summit last month. The group has set clear goals and implemented new programs, and has the full backing of the city government under Mayor Mike Rama.

Cebu, the first city in the Philippines to have its own sports commission, has reaped rewards from Hayco’s vision before. In seven years’ time, he and his wife Eleanor started Team Cebu City Dancesport from scratch, became a dominant force in the country in the sport, sent athletes abroad for competitions, successfully bid for and got to host the first-ever SEA Games dancesport competition, taught tens of thousands of underprivileged in the province, and set a Guinness world record. Cebuanos are hoping Hayco’s golden touch will translate into golds at the Palarong Pambansa, and slots on various national teams.

Hayco, a respected businessman whose successes range from restaurants to exporting furniture and others, has a reputation for being extremely friendly yet dead serious about his pursuit of excellence. That approach has engendered immeasurable good will in the sports, political and business communities in the city, and made him a valuable leader. More so, with an experienced set of commissioners taming up, Cebu will make the country stand up and take notice very soon.

We will chronicle other 2011 sports breakouts in future columns.