So much for the PBA-is-dead narrative. The opposite might be true.
Commissioner Willie Marcial was proud to say that PBA Season 47 was a banner year for the league thanks to record sponsorships and gate receipts.
"All-time high na-hit natin," Marcial told Noli Eala, a former PBA commissioner himself, on Radyo5's Power & Play on Saturday.
That all-time high crowd attendance of 54,589 was recorded when the Commissioner's Cup finals between Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and guest team Bay Area Dragons went to Game 7 and was hosted by the Philippine Arena.
Marcial admitted it was a huge help to have a guest team like the Hong Kong-based Dragons compete in the PBA.
"Parang nangyari, Philippines vs China," he noted. "Kung ganun 'di mahi-hit yung 54,000. Alam kong 'di na natin mahi-hit 'yun."
"Na-tsambahan lang, may konting swerte."
It did help that the league moved Game 7 from Friday to Sunday, allowing the two squads to get more rest and more fans time to flock to Bulacan over the weekend.
Marcial was also proud that there were three different champions for the three different conferences. First, the San Miguel Beermen reasserted their All-Filipino mastery by winning the Philippine Cup. Then, Ginebra copped the Commissioner's Cup crown by winning that record-setting Game 7.
Finally, the TNT Tropang Giga were able to complete their trophy collection after taking the Governors' Cup away from Ginebra.
"Nung pumasok ako, alam na natin kung sino magcha-champion, alam na kung sino magfa-finals," Marcial mused.
"Ngayon 'di na natin alam kung sino top five. 'Yun ang gusto naman natin nung panahon mo," he told Eala. "'Yun ang gusto mong gawin nung panahon mo, sana magawa ko."
That is a bold, ambitious goal for Marcial. But if he can accomplish it, the PBA will be better for it for sure.
(MDB)