'Larong Pinoy' to define PBA under new leadership

MANILA, Philippines – With a good feedback on its current play, the Philippine Basketball Association is looking to just refine the rough edges of the officiating to present to the Filipino basketball fans “larong Pinoy.”

This is among the immediate challenges the PBA board of governors tasked newly appointed PBA commissioner Willie Marcial.

“We’ll have a little bit of FIBA, a little of NBA. Putting it together, we have larong Pinoy,” said PBA board chairman Ricky Vargas.

“The challenge is to exactly tell the coaches the boundaries of the calls, what’s allowed and what’s supposed to be done. Once it’s settled, we’ll have a better understanding (of the current PBA officiating),” Vargas pointed out. “What’s good is what the social media say — the PBA is back.”

Vargas credited Marcial for the changes in the officiating that seem to get the nod of the fans.

Marcial will sit down in a meeting with the 12 coaches next week to firm things up.

“I’ll get input from the coaches,” said the new commissioner.

To strengthen the PBA as a brand and to further improve ties between the PBA and the SBP/Gilas Pilipinas are the other immediate goals of the new league top honcho.

“I want the PBA brand improved so that not just one, two or three teams are followed by the fans. I want any PBA game loved and watched with excitement by the fans,” said Marcial.

He plans to hire a marketing specialist to beef up the PBA Commissioner’s Office personnel.

The board itself tasked Marcial to strengthen the PBA organization, especially the middle people working under the commissioner.

“The board has mentioned to Willie that he’s free to look for help. It’s better that way so we’re assured that we have a future in the PBA organization from within,” said Vargas.

“It’s his call, but Willie has been given instructions. We’ll work with him in finding the right people who will be working with him in the organization,” Vargas added.

Meanwhile, the proposal to lift the restrictions on the number of players a team can lend to Gilas came from Barangay Ginebra governor Alfrancis Chua.

It means Gilas coach Chot Reyes can have the core of the star-studded San Miguel Beer, Ginebra or any other PBA team to form Gilas.

Reyes, however, must get the nod of the players he wishes to have in his team.