PBA should give all-out support for Gilas World Cup trip
Credit to Author: MICHAEL ANGELO B. ASIS| Date: Thu, 04 Apr 2019 00:07:19 +0000
Believe it or not, the PBA once had a problem about ticket scalpers. The demand for PBA tickets was so high, there were long lines at the venue (in the 90s, it was the Ultra in Pasig City, now the PhilSports Arena) and some unscrupulous individuals sought to make money from the fans’ fervor to watch the action live.
Scalpers still exist but only on Ateneo-La Salle games and Finals series for college hoops. The hordes of PBA fans are no longer paying to watch their cage idols live. With the exception of provincial games, watching any random game will reveal a sea of empty seats.
The PBA has blamed traffic for the low attendance, but this is the same traffic that college basketball fans face, since they share the same venue. Some would even say it’s the excellent TV coverage or the ticket prices.
For whatever reason, the dip in attendance is undeniable. I remember telling my son that a PBA game (Manila Clasico) will be held at the massive Philippine Arena and he had to ask “Why?” With smaller venues running on empty, it is a valid question.
Losing the heart of the fans
The TV ratings are still up, there are still teams who want to join, but the PBA does not enjoy the same reverence as before. Fans are no longer in awe.
In contrast, the 90s were probably the nirvana of PBA fandom. It was highlighted by the Philippines’ dream team, even before the USA had theirs. The 1990 Asian Games team with Coach Robert Jaworski united all Filipino basketball fans. Just like the Dream Team, that 1990 RP team was unquestioned. They finished second to juggernaut China and fans were satisfied with that.
The PBA and its fans have changed since. Every national team has been dissected and scrutinized. The fans want more and are not afraid to ask for it. Ask every Gilas coach, from Chot Reyes, RajkoToroman, Tab Baldwin and YengGuiao — the pressure of handling a national team amid millions of armchair experts is truly challenging.
Fans lament lack of support
In the PBA’s recent All-Star break, which they held outside Metro Manila to gain more attendance, Commissioner Willie Marcial claimed that the PBA is making a huge sacrifice for Gilas, as they were planning to give a 10-12 day break to accommodate the national team practices.
Ten to twelve days to compete against the world’s best.
This break will take place between the league’s second and third conferences, specifically on Aug.20, after the Finals of the Commissioner’s Cup. The World Cup kicks off with the Philippines facing Italy on Aug.31.
Fans across social media were up in arms with this announcement. They noted that the US team composed of NBA players and possibly some college players like Zion Williamson will have even more preparation time than Gilas.
Support for Gilas could help PBA
If the PBA were to listen to the fans’ sentiments, they should consider giving more support for the national team. The Filipinos truly need a boost in the international stage after the infamous brawl against Australia. We should maximize the opportunity of participating in the world stage.
The peak of PBA fandom came after that 1990 Asian Games stint. That is not a coincidence. International success can bring upon a renaissance of support for the PBA which they badly need, despite the denials of the Commissioner.
The Filipino hoop fans are not content with simply qualifying for the World Cup. They want to take the next step and at the very least, they want to see a sincere effort from the PBA.
Out of the box solutions
The dilemma remains: The PBA having its own business interests need to preserve their schedule. How can they provide more practice time for Gilas?
There are out-of-the-box solutions for this, some of which will be discussed in the next column. While these are considered as unsolicited suggestions, every successful business plan starts from an out-of-the-box idea. We only need to wait until big businesses are convinced that they would be profitable.
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