Have we seen the last of the PBL?

There was a time when the Philippine Basketball League (PBL), then known as the Philippine Amateur Basketball League (PABL), was the next big thing outside the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). Founded in 1983, the league renewed the public’s interest in amateur basketball. Hoop heydays Games were filled to the rafters as players like Leo Austria, Jerome Cueto, Allan Caidic, Samboy Lim, Jojo Lastimosa, Alvin Patrimonio, Jerry Codinera, Benjie Paras and Nelson Asaytono were the household names in the 80s. In the 90s, Vergel Meneses, Jun Limpot, Johnny Abarrientos, Kenneth Duremdes, Jeff Cariaso, Eugene Quilban, Marlou Aquino, Dennis Espino, Bal David and Eric Menk became the keepers of the league. The PBL survived different challenges—transforming from an amateur commercial league to become an extension league of several collegiate squads. After more than three decades, the PBL is having an identity crisis and is struggling to find its niche back to the hearts of the basketball-loving Filipinos. Have we seen the last of the league that was once considered the nation’s premier amateur commercial league? Hardcourt remedies National Basketball Training Center head and RP national youth coach Eric Altamirano, former La Salle mentor Franz Pumaren, former Tanduay and Sta. Lucia coach Alfrancis Chua, cage great-turned team executive Danny Francisco, and Welcoat Paints team co-owners Raymond Yu and Terry Que had their own experiences enjoying the success of the PBL. They shared their insights on the PBL’s evolution. "Dati kasi, ’yung mga players nagtatagal talaga sa PBL. ’Yung Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) mismo ang may order na you cannot enter the PBA until you reach 23," said Altamirano. “Ngayon, parang ang nangyayari, players will enter the PBL just to become available for the PBA Draft." ("In the past, players really played longer in the PBL. In fact, it was the BAP that gave the order that a player could not join the PBA until he was 23 years old.") Chua believes the PBL should reach out to more to schools in order to gain participation. "Kailangan siguro mas maging more extensive pa ’yung gawin [ng PBL] pag-reach out sa mga schools (I think the PBL needs to have more extensive efforts to reach out to schools)," said Chua, who played for the Philips Sardines team of coach Joe Lipa in the late 80s. Pumaren suggested the league should move its calendar and avoid competitions from other leagues. "Para kasing na-burn out na rin yung mga players. At the same time, baka bigla ring magsawa ang mga tao kung simultaneous ’yung laro ng iba’t ibang liga," said Pumaren, who played for the San Miguel Corporation-owned Lagerlite squad in the PABL. ("Maybe it’s because players get burned out. At the same time, the audience might tire of the simultaneous games played by various leagues.") Francisco, who had a colorful career as slotman of the Ateneo Eagles in the late 80s, played in the PABL for awhile before his career was cut short by a heart ailment. So, instead of pursuing a PBA career, the 6’7" former slotman who had been touted as the next most important big man, ended up as a special assistant to businessman/sportsman Jean Henri Lhuillier of Cebuana Lhuillier. "It’s a cycle," said Francisco, explaining the fever pitch and the waning of PBL’s popularity. "Pero ’yung time nina Alvin (Patrimonio), Jolas (Jojo Lastimosa) and Benjie (Paras), grabe ’yung influx ng talent. After that, medyo nag-dwindle down na and now, parang naiba na rin ’yung interest ng nanonood. ’Yung turnover ng talent, hindi na rin kasi kasingdami like before." ("But during the time of Patrimonio, Lastimosa and Paras, the influx of talent was incredible. After that, it dwindled down and now it seems that the audience have other interests. The turnover of talent is not as frequent as before.") Yu and Que mentioned the value of establishing an identity for teams. "[Our team in the PBL developed a] fan-base because of our rivalries against Red Bull and Shark Energy Drink," they said. Expansion in the works Basketball fans don’t want to leave the PBL in the lurch. "We’re all here to help out," PBA chairman Lito Alvarez. In fact, Alvarez has brokered a possible merger between the PBL and Liga Pilipinas in its bid to work on the amateur league’s expansion plan. "Its main objective is to open PBL franchises to the provinces," he told Manila Standard Today. Alvarez, who is the team manager of the Burger King Whoppers in the PBA and is the newly-appointed chair of the Asia’s first professional basketball league, has his own farm team in the PBL. Alvarez added that it’s about time for the PBL commissioner Chino Trinidad and Jappy Pascual of Pharex should think about the league’s expansion plan. – FVI, GMANews.TV