I have always been a basketball fan and with that passion, I love the game so much that I always want to see a thrilling, challenging and compelling game that I always in the look out for the greatest rivalries in the NBA from the Boston Celtics-Los Angeles Lakers rivalries of the 80s to the PBA's Manila Classico Bgy. Ginebra-Purefoods grudge games.
I have always been a basketball fan and with that passion, I love the game so much that I always want to see a thrilling, challenging and compelling game that I always in the look out for the greatest rivalries in the NBA from the Boston Celtics-Los Angeles Lakers rivalries of the 80s to the PBA's Manila Clasico Bgy. Ginebra-Purefoods grudge games.
In recent years, the rise and fall of the fabled Gilas Pilipinas team has ushered renewed interest in the game not just for me but all basketball-loving fans out there. In fact, the PBA has started opening itself to new ideas and innovations except the Pacquiao mania in the hardwood. Nevertheless, there is a growing need to maintain our national success by getting more talents and developing the game to meet global standards. One of the things that I think should be tackled is the revision of the old tournament format of the PBA.
Let's face it, its getting obsolete and its just too boring that game attendance grow if there is the much awaited Manila Clasico or key playoff games. We need more compelling and quality games to watch like having more out of town games. Speaking of out of town games, why not adopting designated hometowns for each teams and then slowly integrate it as their own so that we can enjoy more hometown rivalries. Isn't this familiar?
We had the MBA before and its shortlived series has shown its potential of creating great basketball. Although financial viability and logistics caused its early demise, why not give it another go. We all know the NBA absorbed the ABA and it helped the former reached new heights. Why not reconsider this idea? Decentralizing the league would mean new jobs in the provinces. Teams, private enterprises and even the provincial governments will invest in building new stadiums and facilities with the long term goal of developing more local talents.
How will we envision a PBA that adopts the MBA as its model? How will the league be organized? (Actually, I found this interesting scheme posted by JORDS33 from SkyscraperCity forum site but little changes from my part).
NORTHERN Conference
Manila (Bgy. Ginebra)
Pasig (Blackwater Elite)
Pampanga (Rain or Shine)
Bulacan (NLEX)
Olongapo (GlobalPort)
Naga City (Expansion Team)
Legazpi City (Expansion Team)
Puerto Princesa (Expansion Team)
Baguio City (Expansion Team)
Laguna (Alaska Aces)
SOUTHERN Conference
Cebu City (San Miguel)
Negros (Purefoods)
Iloilo (Rain or Shine)
Tacloban (Expansion Team)
Dumaguete (Expansion Team)
Davao City (T.N.T.)
C.D.O. (Barako Bull)
Gen. San. (KIA Motors)
Zamboanga City (Expansion Team)
Butuan City (Expansion Team)
Two tournaments: All Filipino and Reinforced
Each team plays against each other twice (home and away): 30 games
Reinforcement: 1 non-Asian and 1 Asian imports, unlimited height. Bottom four teams in each conference can have 2 non-Asian imports.
Imagine a 2015 PBA All-Filipino Playoffs like this:
Northern Conference Quarterfinals
(1) Manila vs (8) Puerto Princesa 2-0
(4) Bulacan vs (5) Olongapo 1-2
(2) Pasig vs (7) Legaspi City 2-0
(3) Pampanga vs (6) Naga City 2-1
Southern Conference Quarterfinals
(1) Cebu vs (8) Gen. Santos 2-0
(4) Tacloban vs (5) Dumaguete 1-2
(2) Negros vs (7) CDO 2-1
(3) Iloilo vs (6) Davao 1-2
Northern Conference Semifinals
(1) Manila vs (5) Olongapo 3-1
(2) Pasig vs (3) Pampanga 2-3
Southern Conference Semifinals
(1) Cebu vs (5) Dumaguete 3-0
(2) Negros vs (6) Davao 3-2
Northern Conference Finals
(1) Manila vs (3) Pampanga 4-3
Southern Conference Finals
(1) Cebu vs (2) Negros 4-3
PBA Finals
Manila vs Cebu 4-3
Bottom team will be relegated and the PBA D-League team will assume the spot in the next season.
As for the financial viability of the league and the team operations for that matter, JORDS33 even broke it down to simple maths:
30 Games so it means a team would have 15 home games
7,000 fans per game X 300 pesos average ticket price = 2,100,000
2,100,000 X 15 home games = 31,500,000
+ sponsor earnings = 50,000,000 (6 months)
gross income = 81,500,000
let's say the average expenses per person on a road game is 50,000
50,000 X 25 people X 15 road games = 18,750,000
average salary = 300,000 (this is 100,000 more than it is today)
300,000 X 20 people (players and coaches) X 6 months (1 conference) = 36,000,000
total expenses = 54,750,000
81,500,000 - 54,750,000 = 26,750,000
How will the team will look like?
Well, I am currently working on fantasy jerseys of each teams by considering the former MBA team and merging it with a current PBA team. So in this case, I will be updating this post whenever possible.
For now, let me show you the fantasy Iloilo team. Since the Iloilo Megavoltz was the team that represented the city during its MBA days, I created a jersey with an altered logo and used the Meralco Bolts color scheme.
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| Meralco Iloilo Megavoltz |
You may be wondering how the Socsargen Marlins jersey would look like. It would look great by using blue and teal to better represent the monicker. It would look bad if they over-emphasize Pacquiao but as a compromise, the KIA Sorento branding would fit on the back. Maybe a little touch of MP logo on the shorts will do the trick. So here it is:
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| KIA Socsargen Marlins |
If Talk N Text would have a home team then they should probably adopt the Davao Eagles as their team in an MBA-type setting. Their strong and passionate home support would do wonders especially if they have a loaded lineup with the likes of the Blur, RDO and Mighty Mouse. Check out the fantasy Talk N Text Davao Eagles jersey.
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| Talk N Text Davao Eagles |
How about reviving the most exciting teams of the MBA with the PBA assuming full control of these defunct ball clubs? Remember the Negros Slashers and Cebu Gems? How about the Cagayan de Oro Amigos?
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