COMM SALUD ON 2013 & 2014
PBA Commissioner Chito Salud looks back on the year 2013, the past season, the rookies, the Gilas Pilipinas conquest, and what’s in store for the league in 2014.
pba.ph: The PBA saw the year 2013 as a banner year, as Season 38 proved to be a rousing success and the ongoing season looking like it’s going to pick up where the previous season left off. Commissioner, what are your thoughts on the year that was?
Comm. Salud: 2013 is a banner year for the league in terms of gate receipts and live attendance. That tells me that we’re in the right direction, that we’re able to meet the expectations of the fans, meaning they want exciting games and we were able to give them that.
The players are responding by playing their best at all times. They’re behaving on and off the court, showing the acceptance of the responsibility on being role models. Our tournament formats are successful in which we were able to avoid non-bearing games, which bore the fans which we also do not like. Our everyday games during the quarters and the semis are a hit with the fans. They like it, and the same with the players. They think that the everyday games, or in their case, every other day games for their team, keeps them on their toes and keeps them fit for the games. So all of these combined, with the support of our Board of Governors and our team owners, we’re able to introduce all these innovations simply to make the PBA more responsive to the clamor of the fans.
pba.ph: The immersion of the 2012 batch of rookies and then the new blood coming in 2013. Six different teams reaching the Finals in all three conferences. What can you say about the parity of the league in the past season?
Comm. Salud: What I’m saying is that we’re taking steps in the right direction. The entry of new and fresh blood – that means that the game will be more exciting because our veterans will be challenged. They will be asked to bring their game to the next level because of the rookies who will continually try to prove themselves, and in so doing, push the veterans also to elevate the game. The rookies are always the lifeblood of the league. Without them, there will be no new challenges and new flavor. So in terms of if they are able to adjust to the type of play that we have in the PBA, some take a while and some hit the ground running, but in the long run, because of their talent and their skills, and of course, their basketball I.Q., they are able to adjust and help make the PBA more exciting.
pba.ph: One of the highlights of the year was the silver medal finish of the country in the 27th FIBA Asia Championship. What kind of help will the PBA extend to the national team with the FIBA World Cup and the Asian Games coming?
Comm. Salud: The FIBA World Cup is a commitment for the part of the PBA. The team that played in the last FIBA Asia tournament and won silver will be kept, at least the core, as I understand it from coach Chot Reyes, will be kept. And the PBA is fully supportive of this. And we’re looking forward to that along with the Asian Games.
pba.ph: Personally, what was your favorite moment for the whole year?
Comm. Salud: Marami eh. One, being how rookies were able to blend into the league, and I have to mention Calvin Abueva and the vast improvement of June Mar Fajardo. Second, the close fight for the Most Valuable Player award between two top stars of the PBA in Arwind Santos and LA Tenorio. Third, of course, that very, very inspiring second place finish that we had in that FIBA Asia Championships. All of these, and day-in and day-out, the excitement of the games that bring joy to our fans – these are the moments that I am thankful for.
pba.ph Commissioner, looking forward to 2014, what can the fans expect from the PBA?
Comm. Salud: It’s simple. Our team owners have one instruction for me – Make the games more exciting and make the league more responsive to the desires of the fans. And everything that we do here emanates from that instruction from the team owners. So let’s just hope that our format works again this year, and our players continue to respond to their obligations to play their best at all times. And that we fare well, and that’s a relative term, in the incoming FIBA World Cup and Asian Games. And I believe, all of that will contribute to another successful 2014.
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