Com’s a lot like Spo

PARIS – There’s something strikingly similar in the career paths of PBA commissioner Willie Marcial and Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra. They both started from the ranks and slowly rose to assume major roles in their organizations. They’re humble, personable and purpose-driven. Under pressure, they never succumb and find ways to deliver.

Marcial, 61, was given a three-year extension of his contract by the PBA Board of Governors during the recent planning/review meeting at the Hotel Warwick conference room here. It was Marcial’s second three-year extension and in 2026, he will become the longest-serving PBA commissioner ever. Significantly, Marcial will be in the saddle when the PBA celebrates its 50th year in 2025, a golden anniversary to mark a historic journey for Asia’s first play-for-pay league.

At the moment, the PBA’s longest-serving commissioner is the late Leo Prieto who was the founding leader from 1975 to 1982 or a period of 7 1/2 years. By 2026, Marcial will have served eight years or since his appointment on Jan. 25, 2018. He was given his first three-year extension during the Board planning/review meeting in Milan, Italy, in 2020.

It was in 1983 when Marcial worked as a PBA stats trainee under Joe Concepcion. He dished out stats to the PBA TV commentary panel and eventually became a floor director then media bureau chief and special assistant to the commissioner in 2003. As the league’s 10th commissioner, Marcial has preserved the integrity of the position and followed in the hallowed footsteps of his predecessors Prieto, Col. Mariano Yenko, Atty. Rudy Salud, Rey Marquez, Jun Bernardino, Noli Eala, Sonny Barrios, Chito Salud and Chito Narvasa.

When Marcial was extended in 2020, this was written about him: “What brought Marcial to the job was a love not just of the game but also of the league. His heart has been his trademark. He opened his door to players. He put a focus on improving the referees’ ranks and quality of officiating. He involved the coaches in periodically evaluating the rules through the Competition Committee. He reached out to fans and brought the game closer to where they are. He sought guidance from the Board and executed plans with transparency, efficiency and resolve.” Beyond all that, he used his media savvy to full advantage in coordinating with TV5/CignalTV to create record values on a variety of platforms.

Spoelstra, 52, was the University of Portland’s starting point guard for four years up to 1992 when he graduated with a communications degree. He boxed shoes at a Nike warehouse then spent two years in the German Division 2 league as a player/assistant coach. Spoelstra coached the TuS Herten club’s youth team during his German stay. In 1995, he considered playing in the PBA as a local since his mother Elisa Celino is from San Pablo, Laguna but chose to accept an offer by the Miami Heat as a video coordinator. His dedication, hard work and knowledge were appreciated by the Miami organization and he was named assistant coach and director of scouting from 2001 to 2008. Then came his promotion to head coach in 2008-09. He has led Miami to two NBA titles and six Finals appearances, including four straight from 2010-11 to 2013-14. This campaign, Spoelstra did the almost impossible by taking the eighth seed Heat to the Finals despite ranking last in the league in points and field goal percentage in the regular season. Miami lost its first play-in assignment, scrambled to make the playoffs, took out first seed Milwaukee, eliminated New York and turned back Boston in a seven-game battle to arrange a Finals showdown with Denver. Interestingly, Marcial’s Cinderella story is just like Spoelstra’s.