If the Pennsylvania Valleydawgs fail to find a sponsor for their trip to the Philippines this September, the PBA will have no other recourse but to cancel the event, according to PBA commissioner Noli Eala.
"We will just have to come up with a simple preseason activity. We really have no budget for a big series with foreign teams. Bonus na lang if it pushes through,’’ Noli said.
From what I gathered, import agent Sam Unera, who offered to bring the Pennsylvania Valleydawgs to Manila, was not aware that what Noli had in mind for the preseason was a campus tour without its frills and without television. Or if it would be covered at all, only the highlights of the game would be aired.
Under these circumstances, it would be extremely difficult to find a multi-million sponsor whose only exposure would be on print.
But Sam hasn’t given up. He has a plan B which is still under wraps, although he hinted that if negotiations push through, the Valleydawgs series will be held at the Araneta Coliseum, complete with television coverage.
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Since the birth of the PBA in 1975, to my recollection, this is the first time the league is staging the All-Stars with such a multitude of activities spanning a whole week.
The moment the plane bearing the 130-man PBA delegation touches down at the Mactan airport in Cebu, the players are whisked off to City Hall via a motorcade for a courtesy call on the mayor.
From hereon, there will be no rest day for the PBA superstars: A visit to hospitals, orphanages and various universities will keep them on the road the following day, August 10, while a basketball clinic for the handicapped and junior players has been scheduled for August 11.
A bar tour, a coastal cleanup at Plantation Bay, a fundraising party at Sunflower City, a Press Conference at Café Uno, Waterfront Hotel where the delegation is billeted, an Anti-drug drive at the Abellana Grounds, a fans day at the SM City Parking Lot, a skills event competition will all fill the 7-day calendar of events which will culminate with the All-Star game on Sunday, August 15 at the Cebu Coliseum.
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With the help of the government, NBN 4 is trying its darndest best to salvage the television coverage of the World Olympics which will be staged in Greece this August.
But is it worth it?
The figures a broadcast colleague gave me are staggering, if not prohibitive, to say the least: $1.2 million in debt payment (to the IOC), $600,000 for TV rights and $225,000 to cover technical and production costs.
"And we’re not even sure we will see the Filipino athletes in action. The chances are remote because the Philippines is last in the order of priorities as far as the television coverage is concerned,’’ my colleague said.
To send a token Philippine TV crew to the Olympics will cost us another
R14 million or thereabouts, he said.
And we’re not even expecting a gold medal. I agree with him. We can put the money to better use.
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Through the intercession of player agent Danny Espiritu, Kenneth Duremdes’ wife Teresa has relented and allowed her husband the use of his Expedition, one of the three vehicles owned by Kenneth which was confiscated by the courts in favor of his wife who filed a temporary restraining order with the courts against the cager.
Danny pleaded and explained to Teresa that without his own vehicle, it will be difficult for Kenneth to move around, especially when training season starts.
And if Kenneth doesn’t train, he can’t play. And if he doesn’t play, he won’t get paid. And if Kenneth doesn’t get paid, neither will Teresa.
It’s as simple as that.
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The Philippine-Chinese community is all excited about an ASEAN basketball tournament which will be held here in Manila from August 15 to 19.
This is the 13th ASEAN Veterans Invitational Basketball tournament which has a membership of 7 countries namely Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Brunei, Hongkong and the Philippines.
Now what is interesting about this league, which is exclusively for Chinese, according to liaison officer Tony Lu, is that only players who are 40 years old and above are qualified to join.
There are two brackets, he said, one for the aged 40 and above and another for players aged 50 and above. Every year, the tournament is held in a different country. This time, it’s the Philippines’ turn to host.
Will we see familiar faces at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum when the tournament gets going?
Definitely, said Tony. "Samboy Lim is one, Welcoat’s Terry Que is another. Then there’s prominent businessman Jaime Lim, William Lao, Tomas Ong, and Macario Chua, to name a few, all officers of the Philippine-Chinese Friendship Basketball League, the group hosting and organizing the event.
