The PBA is alive!

I have an off-and-on, on-and-off relationship with the PBA. Did you know that I totally skipped a season or two when I felt that this league is not worth my time?  But today, I kinda like the PBA again.

So as of today, the PBA is alive. Strange that the day I am declaring that PBA is A-OK is on the first day of the off season. Every little sign that I see, I’d always jump the gun and say this league is dying.

Low volume of TV ads, league is dead.

Empty arena seats, it’s dead.

Trades that don’t make sense, league is dead.

Boring games, it’s dead.

No legit superstars developed, it’s dead.

No halftime dancing cheerleaders, PBA is dead.

Old and tired in-game arena gimmick of T-shirt slinging, PBA is dead.

Brgy. Ginebra eliminated, PBA is dead.

But every time I say its all over for the league, the PBA somehow manages to come back. Like an old prizefighter knocked down, it stands up and comes up swinging, floating in our collective minds, stinging our sports consciousness.

The Petron-Talk n' Text Game 7 last night was a vital sign. Competitive fire of the teams, players, owners and  fans, on full throttle. Social sites were buzzing with tweets and updates. TV viewership surely was up and it was a jampacked Smart-Araneta Coliseum. Heck, even Robert Jaworski bothered to show up to catch the final game of the season, albeit late. To me, Jaworski in the house affirms that PBA is alive. (A Jawo-Lebron mash-up joke here.)

Speaking of LeBron James, the next season should be even better. Remember how LeBron’s “Decision Stunt” spiked interest in the NBA? What happened this season (SMC and MVP teams in the finals, power-upping of teams, PBA learning from failed experiments) and the things to come (new TV deal, the draft) are all a build up to what could be a PBA banner year.

The recipe is complete.

There is genuine animosity between two major groups in the PBA: the MVP group vs the SMC group. This is not a made up rivalry. This is friggin Crispa vs Toyota Version 2.0, and multiplied by a factor of 2. Basketball thrives on rivalry, and when you have two teams vying for Philippine basketball domination, we’ll all get an awesome season of basketball.  

Then, there’s the consistent Alaska, always in the mix and contention. Rain or Shine, experienced and polished under the rough and tough guidance of Yeng Guiao, is finally showing the promise.

Powerade, owners of high drafts picks, will definitely and drastically improve. And get ready for this, the Lina Group has two teams (Barako and Shopinas), so one can expect a whirlwind of player movements in the league.

Speaking of Powerade build-up via draft, enter the fresh crop of players from the amateur and Gilas ranks. Not that deep but impact players and game changers. Insert these guys (JV Casio, Paul Lee, Mac Baracael, Mark Barroca, Marcio Lasssiter, Chris Lutz and Jason Ballesteros) on your favorite teams and you’ll giddy up with the prospects of having them on your side.

The All-Filipino conference will open up the show next season. With teams having full and healthy lineups, it will be one hell of a Filipino hoops war this October. The next conference will feature biggie imports. This is important; basketball is global yet we’re stuck with 6-2 imports guards and small forawards, something that we already have in abundance. Bigger imports and unlimited height for imports has been our battlecry and we thank the league for hearing our appeal.

Excitement and surprises don’t end there. There’s a new TV deal, the unknown factor. Who knows what kind of coverage we’ll get. We’re crossing our fingers though.  Looks like people who’ll run the show are fairly young guys so they know the market, they know new media, they are buying hi-tech equipment, they know what we want.  We’ll see, and hear.

Who will be the anchors and reporters, who are the new faces. Will I still get to see my man-crush Dominic Uy? Will Vito Lazatin roll up his sleeves, do dirty work and hold the mic and shout-cast a game? Lot’s of exciting things to watch out for.

I am so looking forward to the next season. I can remember the few times that I was excited for an incoming season:  (A) 1993 – A new arena;  (B) 1996 – The year of Ginebra Na!, featuring new recruits Marlou Aquino and Bal David, deadly  Vince Hizon, a peaking Noli Locsin, and three-point specialist and defensive demon Dodot Jaworski;  (C) 1999 – The year when Danny Seigle, other young stars and Tanduay took the league by storm.

In the end, those were pretty good seasons for the PBA. So trust me please when I feel something great for the PBA is coming.

And yes, the PBA and I, are on.