PBA expansion in offing, says Eala

Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) commissioner Noli Eala said yesterday expansion is a realistic program for the future and set 12 teams as the ideal target to bring the pro league back to rock-solid financial footing.

Eala said at least one team is sure to enter next season but didn’t discount the possibility of expanding from nine to 12 franchises. However, he declined to divulge the identity of any group studying the viability of joining the league.

"To be honest, there is an individual who used to be with the PBA looking at starting a franchise," said Eala. "He’s now pushing the figures to find out how much it will take to build a competitive team. The options are to buy an existing franchise, such as Shell’s, or start a new one. It won’t happen immediately but it should happen by next season. Even if we add two to make an odd number of 11 franchises, I’d push for it."

Eala said expansion will not only boost the league’s earnings but also provide employment for players who are not able to find jobs because of limited roster spots.

Although Shell’s leave of absence has reduced the league to nine active teams, Eala noted an upside to the development. He said the consolidation of talent means every team has grown stronger.

Eala said he is optimistic of a "robust’ season because of three key reasons.

"First, the competition is going to be very tight and exciting," continued Eala. "We’ve got an improved format that breeds rivalries with a shorter qualification phase and a longer playoff phase. Every stage of play will be competitive. No game is a throw-away. Just look at the lineup of each team. There isn’t a single team that didn’t get stronger.

"Second, the focus in our marketing and operations strategies is sharper. We’ve signed up long-term contracts with our partners, giving them more time to adjust and invest. We’ve improved our provincial and overseas schedules. The marketing summit and planning sessions we held in the offseason enabled us to focus on what the fans want which are basically, consistent venues, wholesome entertainment, less expensive tickets and an enhanced experience in watching the games.

"Third, we’ve licked all our nagging problems and controversies so that now, fans can concentrate on watching pure basketball without distractions. We’ve settled a lot of our problems. There is unity in the Board. We’re all together in wanting the league to succeed. The players realize they’ve got to contribute, too, in lifting the league by playing hard game after game."

Eala said the Board of Governors recently approved a budget where it expects attendance to increase by 10 to 20 percent or from 3,900 to 5,000 average fans each playing day and net revenues to rise from P38 Million last year to P80 Million.

"The goals are achievable," said Eala. "But we’ve got to work hard to accomplish them. The Board challenged the management team to be diligent and industrious. It’s not a budget for mediocrity. It’s a realistic and stretched budget. We’ve slashed ticket prices for the upper levels but we’re hoping to make up by increasing sponsorship income and with better ratings, incremental revenue from TV."

Eala said in two conferences this season, the league will play a maximum of 128 games compared to 142 last campaign.

In the opening Fiesta Conference, Eala said there will be only eight provincial outings, a big drop from 18 the previous year. An overseas game in Taipei has been scheduled and another in Dubai is now under negotiation.

Among the provincial hosts are Cagayan de Oro, Capiz, Tacloban, Urdaneta, Ormoc and Tubud, Lanao del Norte. The All-Star Weekend will be held in Laoag, Ilocos Norte. In the Second Conference, overseas games are scheduled in Jakarta and Guam.

Eala explained that the league’s officiating philosophy will always favor the offensive player to make the game more exciting.

"The no-handcheck rule, for instance, allows the offensive player a lot more room to operate," said Eala. "We want to remove impediments to his creativity in offense. It doesn’t mean we’re taking away the fierceness of the competition. Referees will only blow their whistles when there is an undue advantage or disadvantage resulting from contact."

Eala said this season, referees will be more conscious in monitoring action in the no-charge zone inside the paint.

"We want to allow more penetration," said Eala. "A secondary defender will be called for the block on a contact if an offensive player is already in the no-charge zone. Our rules are skewed towards the offensive player to increase scoring."

Eala said allowing any kind of defense to be played has given rise to more ball movement and less one-on-one guarding. "The role of a player in defense is now very different from before," he said. "The system of playing the game has changed because of the zone. What we’re looking at now is imposing the three-second defensive violation rule like in the NBA. We’re studying it carefully and might implement it starting the next conference."

Eala said setting a salary cap of $12,000 a month for imports doesn’t mean inviting inferior players.

"It’s irresponsible for anyone to think you can’t get a quality import for that amount," continued Eala. "Money isn’t the only factor in finding a good import. If you did your homework as early as last August, you would’ve found the right import. A coach who blames the cap for not finding a good import is insulting the Board. That kind of comment is uncalled for."

Eala said PBA chairman Ely Capacio, a former player, has set the tone for a strong season by looking at the big picture without interfering in the league’s day-to-day operations.

"We really appreciate chairman Capacio’s management style and vice chairman Ricky Vargas’ insights particularly during the budget discussions," said Eala. "At our last Board meeting, we went ahead to sign several contracts. One was a three-year deal with The Filipino Channel for our international TV coverage. Another was for San Mig Coffee to be the Fiesta Conference title sponsor."

In sum, Eala said the pieces are in place for a strong season and the fans will be the ultimate beneficiaries of a more exciting and competitive league.