MANILA, 12 September 2003 — In a bid to attract fans, the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is reviving one-on-one tournament featuring the most talented players in the league today.
The exciting contest, last held in the early 80’s, will be held between games of the current PBA Reinforced Conference.
“This will be a novel treat for the fans since they will have the chance to see the league’s most talented players really use their skills in a one-on-one tournament,” said PBA commissioner Noli Eala.
Perhaps, the most successful one-on-one tournament was held in 1982 when Willie Generalao defeated Frankie Lim in the restricted height division while four-time Most Valuable Player (MVP) winner Ramon Fernandez beat Rey Lazaro in the unlimited height class.
“This is going to be an exciting side dish to the already great serving of basketball the third conference has produced so far. We’re talking here about the league’s most exciting players going up against each other in a slam-bang affair,” said Eala.
A total of 540,000 pesos in prizes will be given out, including 150,000 pesos each to the champions of the two different divisions - one for players under six feet and four inches (Governors’ division) and one for those 6’4” and above (Commissioner’s division).
In the Governor’s division, the participants are Alaska’s Brandon Lee Cablay, Coca-Cola’s Jeffrey Cariaso, FedEx’s Gherome Ejercitio, Ginebra’s Mark Caguioa, Purefoods’ Rey Evangelista, Red Bull’s Willie Miller, San Miguel’s Joey Mente, Shell’s Chris Calaguio, Sta. Lucia’s Francis Adriano and Talk ‘n Text’s Jimmy Alapag.
In the Commissioner’s division, the participants are Alaska’s Don Allado, Coca-Cola’s Raffi Reavis, FedEx’s Yancy de Ocampo, Ginebra’s Jun Limpot, Purefoods’ Kerby Raymundo, Red Bull’s Davonn Harp, San Miguel’s Danny Ildefonso, Shell’s Anthony de la Cruz, Sta. Lucia’s Dennis Espino and Talk ‘n Text’s Asi Taulava.
The league’s certified slam dunk artists — Taulava, Harp, Ildefonso, Raymundo, Mente and reigning slam dunk king Cablay — will have extra motivation to stuff baskets in their opponent’s faces. Dunks will be worth three points, paving the way for exciting above-the-rim action.
“In normal basketball play, a dunk is more of an artistic shot, something to pump up the crowd or demoralize an opponent. Here, it will have an incentive,” Eala said.
Pinpointing the favorites will be tough. While there are standouts, the fact that the talent level is pretty much equal ensures tough matches that should keep the crowd glued to their seats at a time when they are supposed to be checking out concessionaire stands.
“Perhaps, people will say that Asi Taulava, for instance, is a favorite because he’s the leading MVP contender. But guys like Davonn Harp and a healthy Dennis Espino or Danny Ildefonso will give him a lot of stiff competition.
Kerby Raymundo, because of his number of moves, should also be exciting to watch,” Eala said. Eala hopes to find and develop new stars on the hardcourt, and this could be done by reviving the one-on-one competition, the newest pet project of the league.
“The revival is something that would begin a new trend in the PBA. We seem to lack heroes. So the thrust of the PBA is to develop new heroes and stars,” said Eala.
The PBA - one of the most successful professional basketball leagues in Asia — is in the process of recovering from a declining trend in terms of sales and gate receipts due to the economic crisis that hit the region.
But the PBA is brimming with a new bubble of confidence for a healthier, better and vibrant league this season.
The painstaking process of making all the changes on its 29th season, innovations and house-cleaning in the off-season is aimed at reinvigorating the PBA which started in 1975.
The PBA is hopeful the league’s new look and new beginning would restore its glowing reputation as the most successful and longest-running sports event in the country.
“We are excited with all the changes, the new attitude and the new look we’ve got. We’re all set to unveil the new PBA and, with all the changes we’ve had, we’re looking forward to exciting, healthier and promising seasons ahead of us,” said Eala, who took over the commissionership from Jun Bernardino.
Eala hopes his vast knowledge in different fields will carry him through his Herculean attempt to put life back into a gasping league that has been battered by the prevailing economic conditions.
“We’re all in this together,” he said. “The long-term goal is to bring back the glory days of the PBA.”
The PBA may be an old product, even stale to some observers, but Eala is convinced the “newness of the whole thing-from the coveror, chairman and the commissioner, gives the league a fresh look.
“It’s time to take advantage of that,” he said. “There is a pervading change everywhere, not only in the PBA, but also with the fans. They’ll see that we’re serious and the league is professionally run.”
“I’m happy with the response of the board. Their support to what I hope will be a transition year for the PBA is so important and I’m really glad we agreed on a lot of things,” said Eala.
The recent controversies with its playing venues are forcing the PBA to speed up search for site where it can build its own cage dome next year.
So the PBA board has unanimously approved plans for the construction of its own venue.
Actually, the league had already planned in the past to build its own venue. The plan was shelved because of the economic crisis the country has been experiencing since the late 90s.
If plans don’t miscarry, the “PBA Dome” will become a landmark either in the Pagcor City in the Para?aque reclamation area, the present site of the Rizal provincial capitol in Pasig or a private land in front of the SM North Edsa in Quezon City.
“We’re fast-tracking our plans with all the problems we face. We thought this is the best thing to do. If we have our way, we’ll start construction next year,” said Eala.
