If plans do not miscarry, regions outside Metro Manila will be experiencing big time basketball once more, with the proposed Liga ng Pilipinas.
As reported, this will be a merger of the present two regional leagues the Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association (MVBA) and the National Basketball Conference (NBC) which have been scrambling to establish themselves.
Actually, I have always been wondering how the two leagues could survive independently.
Maybe because they do not compete against each other for talent by not holding their conferences at the same time. I understand that some players in the MVBA teams played in the latest NBC, who just finished their own tournament before the MVBA opened its own.
Good for the players though because most of them are hired on a conference to conference basis.
With the MVBA and the NBC merged, it has the potential of becoming a super league, which could equal the defunct MBA, and should give the PBA a run for its money.
The creation of this league seems like a very serious venture because they have engaged no less than Noli Eala, erstwhile of the PBA, to run the league.
Mr. Eala’s experience and marketing savvy would give Liga a jumpstart.
I am sure that this has the blessings of Manny Pangilinan because the idea is attributed to Executive Director Patrick Gregorio of SBP-BAP.
While the league is still in its organizational stage, allow me to put in my two centavos worth of suggestions.
The teams should really be regional teams—meaning based in the city or province which it will banner. In the defunct Metroball, the successful teams were those who were able to excite the imagination of the local fans, when they were able to identify with the team, and had a sense of ownership over it. The other teams who just carried the name of a place, but were actually based in Manila was never able to develop a local following.
Competitive balance is also very important. For this reason, a draft system should be put in place.
To add more local flavor though, a team may be given first option in signing a player from the region which the team represents.
The league should also veer away from the Fil-Am option, unless sufficient safeguards can be put in so they would not be crowding out local talents, and the salary structure of the teams would not be put out of whack.
Salaries should also not be allowed to run wild, which was the bane of the MBA.
Owners spending money just for one championship, then folding up in the succeeding conferences.
Teams should also be prohibited from joining bush league tournaments. The temptation is always there specially if the team is carrying the name of a company. In this regard, maybe the teams can be named after the place that they represent. Company sponsors should be limited to placing patches, logos and the like on the team uniform.
Related to this, Liga teams should play only in choice venues.
There was a tournament among collegiate teams which was held in practice venues. The public almost lost interest, until the venue was changed.
There should also be a conscious effort to protect the collegiate leagues, as what the PBL and the PBA are doing. In fact if Liga, which is also under the auspices of the SBP-BAP should extend assistance to the school tournaments, such as improving the coaching staff, officiating, even marketing of games.
This stands to reason. Liga should look at these schools as farm teams where they could later harvest talents. At the same, SBP-BAP can immediately have an ongoing program of grassroots development.
I am sure though that Liga Pilipinas would already have these things in their mind, especially with Noli Eala at its helm.
My sincerest wishes for the success of Liga ng Pilipinas.
Basketball fans should give their total support to the league because this will assure us of quality basketball on a year round basis.
