Retooling 'Slam' for Pinoys

In 1994, the “in-your-face” all-basketball magazine “Slam” made its debut in the market with NBA star Larry Johnson gracing its first-ever cover. The issue, of course, is now a collectors item and anyone with a copy is holding on to it like an appreciating investment.

Today, “Slam” continues to be the most dominant basketball media outlet in the world. “Dime” is probably its closest competitor but there’s a safe distance separating both publications. If The Ring Magazine is considered the bible of boxing, “Slam” is recognized as the bible of basketball.

Over 10 years ago, there was an attempt to localize “Slam” by inserting Filipino content  to the extent of about 20 percent. It was a bold bid to retool the global edition and make it more relevant to the local scene. Unfortunately, the localized issues didn’t last very long. They, too, have become collectors items.

“Slam” was unperturbed about the failure of the localized version to take off and the international edition continued to sell briskly.   

Now, a new group of investors has revived the concept of localizing “Slam” with a crack team of writers. The STAR’s motoring editor Dong Magsajo heads the writing cast as editor-in-chief with broadcaster Mico Halili editor-at-large. PBA legend Jeffrey Cariaso is listed in the editorial box as “basketball evangelist.” Cariaso is a partner in the owning entity Titanomachy Publications whose main man is publisher Dennis Tan.

“I’m very fortunate to being working with people who are passionate for the game, the style, the culture that goes along with the global game of hoops,” said Halili. “Working closely with Jeff at Titanomachy is Dennis who worked 11 years with Nike, seven with Nike Singapore, as product line manager and basketball category manager. Our managing editor Raoul Reinoso worked three years with Nike Marketing handling advertising and digital. Our editor-in-chief Dong heads The STAR’s motoring section when he’s not busy cheering his lungs out for Ginebra.”

Taking care of advertising for the magazine is another Nike veteran Rely San Agustin who is the sales and marketing director.

Halili said his “Slam” colleagues also manage the Titan barber shop and basketball specialty store at the Fort and the increasingly popular Ronac Center where a lot of cage teams practice.

Last May 25, the localized “Slam” edition went on sale in all leading bookstores and newsstands nationwide, retailing for P200. 

“’Slam’ Philippines promises to give its readers the best of both worlds,” said Halili. “While still keeping the US and international content that loyal followers have come to love over the years, the magazine will also have the most unique features on the best that Pinoy basketball has to offer, spanning across the PBA, UAAP and NCAA to the national team programs and everything else in between. For its maiden issue, ‘Slam’ Philippines focuses on three of the hottest local stories in the country  Kiefer Ravena, Smart Gilas and Ronald Tubid.”

Halili said Pinoy hoop fans can now look forward to “Slam” with the same international flavor plus a touch of local color.

“The iconic basketball title’s local version aims to deliver to Pinoy basketball fans the latest on all things hoop-related, from NBA, college ball and high school hoops to old school stories, kicks, streetball and the fashion and culture of the game,” said Halili.

In the current issue, you get a load of stuff, including a poster showing LeBron James against Kobe Bryant and features on LaMarcus Aldridge, Pau Gasol, Serge Ibaka, High School All-Americans, Diana Taurasi, Chris Herren, Kevin McHale, Ravena (a four-pager by Magsajo), Smart Gilas (a 6-pager by Halili) and Tubid (a four-pager by Magsajo). That’s not all. If you get a copy, you’ll find out the cover price is a bargain. If that first “Slam” issue with LJ on the cover is now a certified collectors item, for sure the revitalized “Slam” Philippine edition is destined to acquire the same status.

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 Former UP cager Caloy Allado said he is now negotiating to bring Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Jim Cleamons to conduct a basketball clinic in Manila mid-August. With Mike Brown just signed to a contract as Phil Jackson’s replacement on the Lakers bench starting next season, it’s not certain if Cleamons will be back in the L. A. coaching staff.

Allado, meanwhile, is spearheading a campaign to raise funds for the Fighting Maroons varsity men’s basketball team. The kick-off event is a golf tournament called “Fore the UP Fighting Maroons” to be held at Wack Wack on Thursday, July 7. Tournament fee is P3,500.

“UP is recognized as the premier school in training students to excel and be leaders in their chosen careers,” said Allado whose son Don is a two-time UAAP MVP with La Salle and now plays for B-Meg in the PBA. “In molding its students, UP’s pursuit for excellence is not limited to the academics but includes the field of sports.

“Since its inception, the UAAP is the arena where UP competes with other universities in different sports. The UP varsity men’s basketball team will be participating anew in this year’s UAAP season. After going through a year of changes and adjustments, the team is in a phase of rebuilding beginning with an overhaul of its coaching staff and recruitment of deserving players from the provinces and abroad. The effects of the changes are seen in the performance of the team in the Flying V tournament where the team entered the quarterfinals and in their 4-0 record in an invitational appearance in a Cebu City tournament that pitted them against the top four collegiate teams in the area.”

“However, the rebuilding of the team is not without challenges, foremost of which is to sustain the improvement at a level that will make the team competitive at the quickest possible team. This endeavour requires financial resources to be successful.”

Allado said the fund-raising golf tournament offers options for sponsors to support the Maroons. There are several categories for sponsors  event presentor, major sponsor, special hole sponsor and regular hole sponsor. Each sponsorship comes with its own unique advantages. For details, Allado may be contacted at cell phone No. 0918-825-5236.

Postscript. Calling all La Salle Greenhills students and alumni, faculty, friends and runners for a cause. The “Run 4 Life Part 2,” a fun run aimed at raising funds to help La Salle Greenhills high school faculty in need of medical assistance, will be held on Sunday, June 26, at the Greenhills Shopping Complex in San Juan City. Registration is at 5 a.m. at Greenhills Parking Lot 4 near Gloria Maris. Run starts at 6 a.m. Registration fees are P300 for the 3K run, P500 for 5K and P800 for 10K. “Run 4 Life” singlets will be available for the first 300 registrants only. The run is made possible by the GWM in cooperation Greenhills Shopping Center, San Miguel Corp., Coca-Cola Philippines, Nestle Philippines, Airphil Express, The Medical City, Chowking, Nuat Thai, Tylid Philippines, Globe Telecom and Magic 89.9 DWTM. Pre-register now. Text 0949-1604001, 0916-2741717 or email [email protected] or log on to the facebook events page “GWM Run 4 Life” for details. Contact person is Nana Lorenzana at cell phone No. 0917-8120301 or 975-5015.