The next big things

The tremendous exposure and awareness garnered by the Azkals and the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation team have shed new light on sports that have already been generating success in international competition, but just needed a boost in sponsorship and in media exposure to get to the next level. A side effect of this is that advertisers and even TV networks now feel more urgency in getting the inside track on the next big thing in sports, and the next sporting superstars. This is so that they can stake their claim before the competition, and ride the wave of media attention that follows.

But which sports may fill the criteria, given that, like the Azkals and dragon boat paddlers, television had not exactly been friendly to sports outside of basketball, boxing and billiards? In the next 12 months or so – depending on how the competition between television networks and the success of the Philippines in the Southeast Asian Games, the following sports may just reach the tipping point and move to a higher level of public awareness.

Rugby. The Philippine Volcanoes have had a relatively smooth ride to the top of Asia in the last four years, losing only to a deposed Elite Division team (Korea) in the Asian Five Nations tournament, considering we were at the bottom (Level 4) just four years ago. This past weekend, the Volcanoes took to the Shanghai 7s and got their sweet revenge, defeating Korea, 19-14. Depending on how the rest of the season goes (another tournament is slated in Borneo), the Philippines could finish the year ranked sixth in Asia, enough to earn an invitation to the Hong Kong 7s next year.

What does the Philippine Rugby Union have going for it? Success, good-looking players (remember those billboard underwear ads on EDSA), and Fil-foreign players who are more physically imposing than the more popular Azkals. Once a TV network explains that rugby sevens is not the violent sport that people think and will be an Olympic event in 2016, the sport just might finally take off.

“We know it will take some time, but our goal now is to develop the next generation of homegrown rugby players,” explains PRFU team manager Matt Cullen. “We already have fully local players on this team. The players who come over from other countries play professional and semi-professional rugby abroad, and are elevating the level of play.”

Darts. With the launch of Target’s Manny Pacquiao line of darts, the sport may just get the boost similar to what billiards did after Efren Reyes won the first World Open 9-Ball in Wales in 1999. Target, which has been making darts for over 40 years, sees the Philippines as a big market for the sport, for two reasons: it will help children’s education, and provide livelihood.

“It’s the educational aspect, first of all,” says British commentator and many-time international champion Rod Harrington. “Darts players are the best mathematicians in the world, if you ask kids to look at a multiplication tale, they’re staring out the window in a minute. With darts, they’re having fun and learning to mentally compute at the same time.”

What are the advantages of the sport? First, it’s easy to cover for television. Second, gone are the days when it was played mainly because of the perception that drinking beer while playing steadied one’s throw. Third, international sponsors are ready to help.

“We’re not a company that just wants to come in and say we’re in it for the money,” Target’s international sales director Matt Gilewicz. “We’re already supporting Filipino darts players in international competition. We want to be able to prove that you can earn a living playing darts anywhere in the world.”

Dancesport (collegiate). Although dancesport has hit a roadblock in trying to enter the Olympic Games, Filipinos are making great strides throughout Asia and Southeast Asia. Similar to billiards players, our dancers are hired privately to teach in other Asian countries like China, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. When the sport was introduced as a medal event in the 2005 SEA Games, the country swept both golds. Aside from that, the sport is dynamic enough (five Latin and five Standard dances) to adapt to almost any audience.

This year, the Professional Dancesport Association of the Philippines (PDSAP or Pilipinas Dancesport) has had two successful events, and is poised to establish clubs at the collegiate level. Though it requires some technical training, the sport fits the artistic abilities of Filipinos, and has a wide appeal.

Bowling. Great news: Paeng Nepomuceno and Puyat Sports want to impart the great champion’s skills to students. Plans are being drafted for a collegiate bowling league with the four-time World Cup winner and multiple Guinness record holder leading the way. The plan is to set up shop in different schools (first in Metro Manila), train students, and have them experience competitions in the various Puyat Sports bowling centers.

Bowling is fast-paced, colorful and dynamic. More importantly, our local television networks have experience in covering international bowling tournaments. If we can capture some of the flair and hype of arena bowling in the US, we may have a great television product on our hands.

There are a few other candidates for the next big thing in sport: high school basketball is getting a long hard look from TV networks, as are beach sports, which are merely looking for a permanent venue in or near Metro Manila versatile enough to accommodate beach volleyball, beach football, foot volley and other variations of existing mainstream sports. Martial arts are also knocking on the door, and just need a little understanding from spectators to finally make the mainstream.