Quality games will lure back fans

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Basketball League (PBL) resumes after a one-year absence, confident of providing quality ballgames and recapturing its old glory in the local cage scene.

“It’s a matter of producing good and exciting games which have been the product of the league ever since. That’s what we want to do, to bring back the national consciousness that the PBL is here,” said new commissioner Nolan Bernardino during yesterday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s UN Ave.

Good games won’t be possible without good players, of which there would be plenty, according to league chairman Ding Camua of Pharex, once the league, first established in 1983, formally opens shop on March 12 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

“There will be new faces and Fil-Am players who are going to play (in the league). I myself just came from Los Angeles where a lot of players with Filipino roots have expressed interest to play in the PBL,” Camua said.

The league has produced cage greats like Alvin Patrimonio, Samboy Lim, Allan Caidic, Jojo Lastimosa, Jerry Codiñera, Vergel Meneses, Jun Limpot, Johnny Abarrientos, Marlou Aquino, Eric Menk, Asi Taulava, James Yap, Jay Washington, Joe Devance, among others.

Pharex team manager Jean Alabanza, who also appeared in the session, said five teams have confirmed participation in the first of two conferences the PBL will be playing for the 2011 season, including Pharex, Cobra Energy Drink, Excelroof, FCA-Ani Agrinurture and Café France.