PBA steps up media coverage

MANILA, Philippines - Celebrating its 40th anniversary, the PBA is embarking on a major mission to air every single game live on TV5 on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday with additional coverage on nationwide digital-clarity radio and live streaming this season.

PBA commissioner Chito Salud, in his fourth year on the job, is providing total media mileage for the league’s franchises in an effort to maximize advertising values and create new markets. Salud will welcome a record 12 teams in the PBA fold this year with basketball interest at an all-time high across the nation because of breakthroughs in the global arena.

The other night, the PBA sponsored the red carpet premier of the 90-minute documentary “A Nation’s Passion” at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Resorts World Manila. Talks are now ongoing to market the TV, theater screening and internet download rights for the documentary which was produced by Philippine Star columnist Bill Velasco.

The documentary traces the PBA’s history and also tracks the beginnings of basketball in the country. Salud said the concept was broached to the PBA three years ago and the documentary itself was six months in the making. Over 50 individuals were interviewed here and abroad to tell the PBA story. Among those featured in the documentary are Manny V. Pangilinan, Ramon S. Ang, Fred Uytengsu, Mikee Romero, Raymund Yu, Terry Que, Bert Lina, Nikki Coseteng, Baby Dalupan, Robert Jaworski, Ramon Fernandez, Francis Arnaiz, founding Commissioner Leo Prieto’s son Mike and granddaughter Rosanne, Abe King, Norman Black, Benjie Paras, Ronnie Magsanoc, Danny Florencio, Atoy Co, Johnny Abarrientos, Alvin Patrimonio, Joseph Uichico, Ricardo Brown, Freddie Webb, Asi Taulava, Danny Floro’s grandson Bones Floro, Arwind Santos, Marc Pingris, L. A. Tenorio, Dioceldo Sy, Hector Calma, Naning Valenciano, Ranidel de Ocampo, Jimmy Alapag, Mark Caguioa and Sean Chambers.

Spicing up the documentary is vintage footage of Jaworski dishing off an under-the-legs airborne pass, Bobby Parks dunking on a breakaway, Tony Harris, Ron Jacobs, Samboy Lim and the 1979 exhibition between the Washington Bullets and the PBA All-Stars. There are also highlights of Gilas’ title-clinching win over the US at the 2012 Jones Cup.

TV5 will be the carrying station for the live coverage. This Sunday’s opening ceremonies begin at 1:30 p.m. with the Kia-Blackwater game set at 3 p.m. and the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel- Talk ‘N’ Text contest at 5:15 p.m. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, the first game is scheduled at 4:15 p.m. and the second at 7 p.m. Saturday games kick off at 5 p.m. while in every Sunday doubleheader, the first game begins at 3 p.m. and the second at 5 p.m.

The live Radyo5 broadcasts will be heard on frequencies 92.3 News FM in Manila, 101.9 News FM in Cebu and Davao, 102.3 News FM in Bacolod and 975 News FM in General Santos City. AksyonTV will be the channel to air the PBA games to audiences in the US, Guam, Middle East and Europe.

“Like all PBA fans, we are very excited to celebrate the 40th season,” said Sports5 head Chot Reyes. “The league’s expansion is a tremendous boost to the popularity of the PBA and we promise that Sports5 will give the PBA the most thrilling coverage ever yet.”

The PBA expansion to 12 teams has created more jobs for players so that this season, there will be at least 25 rookies, including four undrafted, and over 37 veterans switching teams. But the influx of fresh talent has left some veterans out in the cold, including two-time MVP Willie Miller, Kerby Raymundo, Nic Belasco, RenRen Ritualo, Jai Reyes, Marvin Hayes and Jason Deutchman.

Miller, however, will continue to be active in the league as an analyst on the TV panel along with former Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio. Former PBA players Ali Peek and Eric Reyes are also in TV5’s pool of TV analysts.  

PBA chairman Patrick Gregorio said to give back to fans, he urged players to return to their home barangays, where they are heroes, and conduct basketball clinics with support from the league and its sponsors. He offered to tap Molten for basketballs and a TV company for sets to donate to barangays during the players’ visits.

At the PBA Chairman’s Ball which he hosted the other night at the Resorts World Manila, Gregorio said the event was dedicated to the wives and girlfriends of players, coaches and team officials. He honored the women who have stood behind the PBA players, coaches and team officials through the years and will continue their support in the future.  

This season’s rosters list 13 first round overall draft picks – Yancy de Ocampo (2002), Mike Cortez (2003), Rich Alvarez (2004), Jay Washington (2005), Kelly Williams (2006), Joe de Vance (2007), Gabe Norwood (2008), Japeth Aguilar (2009), Noy Baclao (2010), Jvee Casio (2011), JuneMar Fajardo (2012), Greg Slaughter (2013) and Stanley Pringle (2014).

Meanwhile, in the Asean Basketball League (ABL), the demand for Filipino coaches and players continues to be high. Froilan Baguion and Leo Avenido are with Saigon, Al Vergara with Singapore, Patrick Cabahug with Bangkok and Brian Ilad with Sumatra. Other Filipino imports in the ABL are Rexlander Leynes of Sumatra, Fil-Am John Smith of Indonesia and Fil-Tongan Moala Tautuaa of Kuala Lumpur. Filipino coaches in the ABL are Jing Ruiz of Bangkok and Ariel Vanguardia of Kuala Lumpur.