Philippine PBA Trades, Releases, Sign-ups, Rumours (vol. III)

[zairex]

The EASL will provide another playoff tournament for the fans to watch, even if it's not a Ginebra game. I think the fans would want to watch one of our own take on international teams. And I assume the EASL might share TV and ad revenue among the qualified teams, which will help with the cash flow.

As for getting more fans to watch non-Ginebra PBA games live, the question is how do we make the PBA more attractive to fans? Gilas participation and commitment, better marketing for the other teams?

I am talking about PBA only. Season-long, one conference is an issue. Better marketing is good. But what marketing, can you suggest a guarantee marketing strategy to bring fans back for what 60games x 12teams regular season.

[IPC]

I am talking about PBA only. Season-long, one conference is an issue. Better marketing is good. But what marketing, can you suggest a guarantee marketing strategy to bring fans back for what 60games x 12teams regular season.

Admittedly, I cannot think of any marketing tactic. That's why I asked the question, because I honestly don't know the answer.

PBA participation in the FIBA Asia Cup this August, maybe that can drum up fan interest. As said by some IBNers here, the Gilas run in 2013 drummed up PBA interest. I was one of the new PBA fans that time. Maybe participation and full commitment (and success of course) in Gilas tournaments will help revive fan interest.

[IPC]

The PBA's looking at a May draft: http://tbti.me/s20dw5

Well, might give collegiate prospects time to strut their stuff before they declare.

Welcome news. At least the PBA might get ready for a long offseason, and probably give the pros more room to participate in Gilas preparation sessions for the FIBA Asia Cup this July. Well, if they choose to.

This might work for a change in calendar planning and format as well.

[zairex]

Admittedly, I cannot think of any marketing tactic. That's why I asked the question, because I honestly don't know the answer.

PBA participation in the FIBA Asia Cup this August, maybe that can drum up fan interest. As said by some IBNers here, the Gilas run in 2013 drummed up PBA interest. I was one of the new PBA fans that time. Maybe participation and full commitment (and success of course) in Gilas tournaments will help revive fan interest.

That Gilas can help but sustainability is needed. Again PBA teams are spending more than earning in PBA even before the pandemic. It might help that people miss live games once the pandemic has slowed down to fill up arenas. In the long run, PBA needs a better strategy to capture a young audience and Gen Z. Who has time to watch 4hrs of basketball in one seating in an arena?

[ja.he]

As I always say, there is this dream situation and reality. The reality is funding the teams and PBA. 200 million a year is spent per team. Are they going to get any revenue in return and how much? How many people will go to a venue to watch PBA for regular games? Play-offs there is a guarantee and also Ginebra. But the rest of the league can't guarantee of 10K paying audience every regular games.

Because the very system of PBA is flawed. Almost games happen in Metro Manila or in Yñares. Teamnames are products of a company. PBA should encourage less popular teams like Phoenix, ROS, Alaska, NLEX and Meralco to adopt a province for purpose of creating their respective fanbases. Kasi naman, who really wants to support a team of powder-filled milk, a house paint, or gas station? Things will be different if they put names of provinces in their team.

Pampanga NLEX Road Warriors
Caloocan Meralco Bolts
Laguna Alaska Aces
Bulacan Rain or Shine Elasto Painters
Batangas Phoenix Fuel Masters

No need for more popular teams like Ginebra, SMB, Magnolia and TNT to adapt a province since they have already big fanbases.

Per venue:

NLEX - Bren Z. Guiao Sports Complex and Convention Center - 3,000 seats
Meralco - Caloocan Sports Complex - 3,000 seaters
Alaska - Alonte Sports Arena - 6,500 seaters
ROS - Baliuag Star Arena - 5,000 seaters
Phoenix - Batangas City Coliseum - 5,000 seaters

Even if you reach you don"t reach 10k in gate attendance, if you get these smaller arenas jampacked every game, you can generate good revenue. For me, hybrid regionalization will do.

[IPC]

Because the very system of PBA is flawed. Almost games happen in Metro Manila or in Yñares. Teamnames are products of a company. PBA should encourage less popular teams like Phoenix, ROS, Alaska, NLEX and Meralco to adopt a province for purpose of creating their respective fanbases. Kasi naman, who really wants to support a team of powder-filled milk, a house paint, or gas station? Things will be different if they put names of provinces in their team.

Pampanga NLEX Road Warriors
Caloocan Meralco Bolts
Laguna Alaska Aces
Bulacan Rain or Shine Elasto Painters
Batangas Phoenix Fuel Masters

No need for more popular teams like Ginebra, SMB, Magnolia and TNT to adapt a province since they have already big fanbases.

Per venue:

NLEX - Bren Z. Guiao Sports Complex and Convention Center - 3,000 seats
Meralco - Caloocan Sports Complex - 3,000 seaters
Alaska - Alonte Sports Arena - 6,500 seaters
ROS - Baliuag Star Arena - 5,000 seaters
Phoenix - Batangas City Coliseum - 5,000 seaters

Even if you reach you don"t reach 10k in gate attendance, if you get these smaller arenas jampacked every game, you can generate good revenue. For me, hybrid regionalization will do.

I think we can give Ginebra and SMB and probably MERALCO home teams in Metro Manila, since they have the best connection.

There are plenty of big cities around the Philippines outside of Metro Manila, however. We have San Fernando, Batangas, Lucena, Naga, Legazpi, Iloilo, Antipolo, Zamboanga, Davao, Cagayan de Oro. Question is, what teams could settle here, though?

[zairex]

I think we can give Ginebra and SMB and probably MERALCO home teams in Metro Manila, since they have the best connection.

There are plenty of big cities around the Philippines outside of Metro Manila, however. We have San Fernando, Batangas, Lucena, Naga, Legazpi, Iloilo, Antipolo, Zamboanga, Davao, Cagayan de Oro. Question is, what teams could settle here, though?

If you hate corporate politics bringing along LGU politics will be disaster. Politicians will be involved, one way or the other.

Again this will be more expensive, arena maintenance and quality can't be guaranteed. Even now, alot of slippery floors on provincial Arenas. Crowd control is an issue for home crowd because they are now regular playdates. Look at MPBL, force to use few arenas in GMA, can't do games in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

[IPC]

Because the very system of PBA is flawed. Almost games happen in Metro Manila or in Yñares. Teamnames are products of a company. PBA should encourage less popular teams like Phoenix, ROS, Alaska, NLEX and Meralco to adopt a province for purpose of creating their respective fanbases. Kasi naman, who really wants to support a team of powder-filled milk, a house paint, or gas station? Things will be different if they put names of provinces in their team.

Pampanga NLEX Road Warriors
Caloocan Meralco Bolts
Laguna Alaska Aces
Bulacan Rain or Shine Elasto Painters
Batangas Phoenix Fuel Masters

No need for more popular teams like Ginebra, SMB, Magnolia and TNT to adapt a province since they have already big fanbases.

Per venue:

NLEX - Bren Z. Guiao Sports Complex and Convention Center - 3,000 seats
Meralco - Caloocan Sports Complex - 3,000 seaters
Alaska - Alonte Sports Arena - 6,500 seaters
ROS - Baliuag Star Arena - 5,000 seaters
Phoenix - Batangas City Coliseum - 5,000 seaters

Even if you reach you don"t reach 10k in gate attendance, if you get these smaller arenas jampacked every game, you can generate good revenue. For me, hybrid regionalization will do.

I think we can give Ginebra and SMB and probably MERALCO home teams in Metro Manila, since they have the best connection.

There are plenty of big cities around the Philippines outside of Metro Manila, however. We have San Fernando, Batangas, Lucena, Naga, Legazpi, Iloilo, Antipolo, Zamboanga, Davao, Cagayan de Oro. Question is, what teams could settle here, though?

Another pro of having games in multiple cities and provinces is that you can get more revenue per day. More games can be broadcast simultaneously, which will be a big help to the schedule and the revenue. More games can be scheduled while still keeping the season short. Plus, more networks can broadcast, which brings more ad revenue and views.

[IPC]

If you hate corporate politics bringing along LGU politics will be disaster. Politicians will be involved, one way or the other.

Again this will be more expensive, arena maintenance and quality can't be guaranteed. Even now, alot of slippery floors on provincial Arenas. Crowd control is an issue for home crowd because they are now regular playdates. Look at MPBL, force to use few arenas in GMA, can't do games in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

I'll have to agree with the politician part. They'll do anything to keep their people and voters. Pero politics aside, yes it's more expensive, but there could potentially be bigger revenues. Potentially, a.

[ja.he]

If you hate corporate politics bringing along LGU politics will be disaster. Politicians will be involved, one way or the other.

Again this will be more expensive, arena maintenance and quality can't be guaranteed. Even now, alot of slippery floors on provincial Arenas. Crowd control is an issue for home crowd because they are now regular playdates. Look at MPBL, force to use few arenas in GMA, can't do games in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Another pro of having games in multiple cities and provinces is that you can get more revenue per day. More games can be broadcast simultaneously, which will be a big help to the schedule and the revenue. More games can be scheduled while still keeping the season short. Plus, more networks can broadcast, which brings more ad revenue and views.

That's the problem here in our country, we have troubles creating a regional sports league because politicians cannot keep themselves away. Well, never heard that B.League, T1 League, NBL and NBA that the politicians are meddling every game. We don't even see them during games. We usually hear them when someone is either putting up a new team or a team is relocating in another city.

I still believe though that we can keep politicians away from a regionalized league.

Per venue, Alonte, Sports Arena, Caloocan Sports Complex, Bren Guiao, and Baliuag Star Arena are some of the better courts we have. These fully-furnish floorings and good air conditioning. These three arenas already hosted games of PBA, MBA, and PVL (and PSL).

[IPC]

A couple changes for the bubble period:

1. Single season format, and with imports of unlimited height. If there are no imports for a specific team, that should be left to the team's decision.

2. Have a double round robin and then the playoffs.

2.a. In the double round robin eliminations, each team will play the each other team twice for a total of 22 games per team (and a total of 132 elimination games, which is easy to schedule over a 3-4 month period; however, there should be scheduling leeway for the EASL teams). The top eight teams make the playoffs.

2.b. In lieu of a double round eliminations, a shorter group stage could be employed. Two groups of six teams each, and each team faces the other five in its group twice for a total of 10 games per team (and a total of 60 games for the entire elimination round, less than one conference).

2.c. Playoffs is best-of-3 or best-of-5 for all rounds.

3. Have a COVID protocol for infected players, so the games can keep going. This is similar to the policies of the NBA and other international leagues. Let the affected players play after two negative tests, or a period of 5-10 days.

4. Employ a trade moratorium during the eliminations and the playoffs. The only time trades can be made is either before the eliminations, or at least two weeks before the playoffs, similar to the transfer windows in European football.

If there are any changes like the trade moratorium or the single season format, might as well do it during the experimental bubble period, and hope they stick.

If the PBA is forced to stay in another bubble, maybe this bubble thing I proposed could be a nice experiment. Especially with the group stage and playoff format I proposed. We can cut costs with this.

[IPC]

That Gilas can help but sustainability is needed. Again PBA teams are spending more than earning in PBA even before the pandemic. It might help that people miss live games once the pandemic has slowed down to fill up arenas. In the long run, PBA needs a better strategy to capture a young audience and Gen Z. Who has time to watch 4hrs of basketball in one seating in an arena?

The young audiences watch the NCAA and UAAP. We might attract them with promos to watch their favorite UAAP stars in the PBA.

However, in recent memory, I think Kiefer is the only popular UAAP star that's made it big in the PBA. Jeron Teng was popular, but he's a role player now.

What collegiate star has enough popularity and talent to be able to attract the younger fans?

[ja.he]

The young audiences watch the NCAA and UAAP. We might attract them with promos to watch their favorite UAAP stars in the PBA.

However, in recent memory, I think Kiefer is the only popular UAAP star that's made it big in the PBA. Jeron Teng was popular, but he's a role player now.

What collegiate star has enough popularity and talent to be able to attract the younger fans?

That's why a partial home-and-away format might work. In a home-and-way format, audience will just watch one game for 2 hours, more or less. Teams like Phoenix, Alaska, ROS, NLEX and MERALCO might benefit with this format. Teams like Ginebra, SMB, Magnolia and TNT have the option not have their own homecourt and let their games be played in Araneta, MOA, Cuneta or Ynares.

[CoJ]

That's why a partial home-and-away format might work. In a home-and-way format, audience will just watch one game for 2 hours, more or less. Teams like Phoenix, Alaska, ROS, NLEX and MERALCO might benefit with this format. Teams like Ginebra, SMB, Magnolia and TNT cannot have their own homecourt and let their games be played in Araneta, MOA, Cuneta or Ynares.

personally I would rather have Araneta and MOA as the venue for the semifinals and finals while the regular season/elimination games could be done in smaller venues within the Metro for SMB, Magnolia, BGSM and TNT, while the rest of the teams with smaller fanbase could go for their own homecourts in cities outside Metro Manila ( i.e. Baguio, Davao. Cebu, Lipa etc as long as logistics and costs will be reasonable). Lets be honest prior the pandemic the gate attendance for the elimination games of the PBA's popular teams (BGSM) are disappointing.

[The_Big_Cat]

Ganuelas Rosset declines contract extension from Terrafirma