PBA breakthroughs in 2015-16
SEOUL, Korea – The Philippine Basketball Association made major breakthroughs in the season just past including an agreement with Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas with regards a national team program and a new momentum in gate sales/TV viewing as ignited by Barangay Ginebra’s triumphant run.
PBA Season 41 was a success with a total gate sale of over P200 million and the improved league balance as evidenced by three different teams emerging as champions in the season.
For the second time in four years, the PBA enjoyed a banner season with San Miguel Beer’s Robert Non at the helm.
Non officially turned the league chairmanship over to his successor Mikee Romero at the start of the PBA planning session at The Plaza Hotel in Myeondong district here Thursday.
“More than anything, the season, to me, was a success just because of the Gilas program we crafted with the SBP. So ngayon nandyan na ang programa. Wala ng pagtatalunan, wala ng pagdedebatehan,” said Non.
The PBA and the SBP have agreed on a 25-man Gilas pool that will be at coach Chot Reyes’ disposal in all the tournaments Gilas Pilipinas is participating in a quest to make the FIBA World Cup in 2019 and the Olympics in Tokyo in 2020.
The initial Gilas pool is composed of Mac Belo, Kevin Ferrer, Jio Jalalon, Mike Tolomia, Russel Escoto, Roger Pogoy, Arnold Van Opstal, Ed Daquiaog, Von Pessumal, Matthew Wright, Alfonso Gotladera, Carl Bryan Cruz and Almond Vosotros. To be added to them is one player each from the 12 PBA teams to be chosen by the national coach.
Also source of pride for the PBA was the gate sale representing the Filipino basketball fans they catered with live basketball action in the playing venues.
“We failed to match the total sale in the previous year, but we’re close there, and that’s despite the postponement of the season opener due to a typhoon,” said Narvasa.
As expected, the PBA gate sale suffered after Gilas Pilipinas failed to make the mark in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament at the MOA Arena in July. But the PBA mounted a big rally in the third conference largely behind Barangay Ginebra’s amazing romp all the way to a first crown in eight years.
The league could’ve easily surpassed its gate income in the previous season had they not limited the sale of SRO tickets in the Ginebra-Meralco finale.
“Ako na mismo ang nagpapigil to avoid the risk of any incident,” said Narvasa.
In the fateful Game Six, the PBA put a giant TV screen outside the Smart Araneta Coliseum for the big number of people not accommodated inside the venue.
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