PBA: Upstairs and downstairs

The Philippine Basketball Association is getting its house back in order. The league now has given fans, the general public and media a familiar face to run its affairs: Willie Marcial, whose ascent is an aspirational story the league needs to continue strengthening the promise of hope with its audience. Marcial has seen it all, from almost every facet of the league.

I first met Com. Willie 28 years ago. That took a while to sink in. In 1990, when I joined Vintage Enterprises as a young producer and on-camera talent, he was our statistician and TV panel director. Even back then, he was a tremendous help in pointing out statistical trends and anomalies, which made our commentators look good. Everyone liked him, and he was one of those faceless heroes Joe Cantada teased on the air. Willie was, in short, a great teammate.

In 2003, he was invited by then-Com. Noli Eala (a Vintage Enterprises commentator) to join the PBA. As its Media Bureau chief, he was - and still is - perfect for the job: street smart, attentive, understanding. Eventually, members of the PBA board realized they had a bridge-builder on their team, someone who could massage egos, mend friendships, and still maintain his independence. He is, for lack of a better term, one of the guys. He put out fires before they even started, and made sure that, as much as possible, both sides got what they wanted. It was his gift for explaining the other person’s view in simple terms, in heading off misunderstanding, that made him invaluable to the PBA.

Now, at ground level, where feet meet the street, the PBA is starting to hum. Fans are starting to see competitive games, players are responding to a more human touch. And even though each team’s mother company has its own corporate social responsibility initiatives, Marcial’s “swords to ploughshares” approach converts fines into community service, a brilliant move. A fine on a player can be paid by his team, and therefore has no corrective effect. But community service can work in two ways. First, the erring player can be humbled by being in direct contact with his primary audience, Juan dela Cruz. Or he can find the whole experience so abhorrent that he will avoid being sanctioned that way again.

This warmer approach works. It builds trust and rapport, especially during the time spent with the working press after hours. And when fans see a commissioner who is one of them, has risen through the ranks, is uncomplicated (and thus, in the eyes of some, without an agenda), they see a more personal and personable PBA. Though the PBA initially said it would “take its time”, a sentiment echoed even three days before Marcial was finally given the job, it appears he has won them over. A commissioner who does not have a corporate background, doesn’t wear ties, and speaks purely in the vernacular. That’s something the PBA has never tried before.

All this is a great take-off point. But that addresses the downstairs, the spadework, the details. The challenge is for the new commissioner to pull abreast in learning what he needs to for the upstairs part: deeper intricacies of being a professional manager. In the boardroom, there are contracts to review, policies to establish, directions to set, two boards (team owners and governors) to answer to. Every move’s possible repercussions must be studied, its consequences weighed. Legal questions must be answered, budgets and other financials studied. There is an office to run, staff to guide, referees to keep vigilant, technical officials to monitor. International and provincial games need resources, as do special projects and events. All this makes the games look seamless.

The good news is that Com. Marcial has a lot of people who want to see him succeed. And frankly, the PBA can’t afford him not to. League officials agree that the healing process will take a long time, more so since a decision was made that cannot be undone. But as chairman Vargas says, when you elevate the discussion, emotion and ego do not get in the way. And after all he has done behind the scenes all these years, Com. Willie deserves all the help he can get.