The announced Jan. 25 meeting of the 10 PBA teams is long overdue and almost certain to infuse new life into the pro league.
The PBA has often been touted—and rightly so—as the best organized in Asia. But it has had its fair share of downs in recent years which can be corrected with foresight.
There’s been a willingness to make hard decisions anchored on the fundamental integrity that must prevail in any undertaking.
In lawyer Chito Salud, the PBA has a league commissioner who has a sound grasp of what problems the league faces and an abiding faith in the product.
Faith in the PBA product is essential. How to enhance the product is another matter.
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One goal which Salud has achieved is bringing the team owners together after what has seemed like an eternity.
Typically, he takes no credit for it but merely refers to what seems like a convergence of thoughts from some of the key team owners. Manny Pangilinan of Talk ‘N Text and Meralco apparently sparked the idea which was quickly embraced by Ramon Ang, team owner of San Miguel Beer, Barangay Ginebra and Purefoods.
Three items have been placed on the agenda.
1. The plan for the PBA to have its own coliseum;
2. The issue of a television coveror and;
3. The question of the national team.
Of course there is nothing to prevent the team owners from raising other issues.
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The question of the TV coveror may be a little more complicated than at first glance. The overwhelming consensus is that ABS-CBN should be the choice.
With its nationwide network and a slew of platforms through which the PBA could be promoted and marketed, not to mention its strong global reach through, ABS-CBN does seem the logical choice.
But sometimes logic gives way to business realities.
ABS-CBN feels it has been burned more than once in bidding for the TV rights. It has been promised the franchise in the past only to lose it to some other entity at the last minute.
Gabby Lopez is almost certainly not prepared to gamble on another rebuff and would want some form of negotiating window first so they could come to terms without a bidding.
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Here, pride could unfortunately get in the way because ABS-CBN may be required to make a bid and have faith in both Salud and the PBA to deal fairly.
We are confident they will be fair, but if Lopez doesn’t feel comfortable, then a mutually rewarding opportunity could well be lost.
The TV organization of Pangilinan has also expressed interest in the PBA franchise. This seems only natural considering Pangilinan’s immense involvement in basketball both in the PBA, the collegiate leagues and the Smart Gilas national team.
But it is unlikely that basketball would return to ABC 5, where ventures in entertainment appear to be paying off in terms of ratings and revenues.
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This would mean having to link up with another available network—possibly IBC 13, which the government wishes to privatize—backed up by the Media Quest group’s soon-to-open UHF channel, Signal TV and other potential partners.
There are intriguing possibilities but, as we mentioned earlier, faith must be the guiding principle in helping overcome doubts and reaching a consensus on crucial issues such as a TV partner for the PBA.
The team owners must keep the faith in one another, and those seeking a media partnership need to trust the PBA commissioner and the league leaders.
The climate of hope in our country today should inspire all concerned to take a leap of faith. Ronnie Nathanielsz, Phil. Daily Inquirer
