As the PBA marks its 50th anniversary, commissioner Willie Marcial sits down with The GAME Magazine to talk about his tenure and what lies ahead for the league.
As commissioner of Asia’s first professional basketball league and second-oldest in the world, Willie Marcial knows he has a thankless job. The PBA turns 50 on April 9, a remarkable milestone for any organization, and the burden of commemorating it properly while laying the groundwork for the years ahead has fallen on his watch.
Marcial’s advantage is that he has been involved with the PBA for over 40 years, a constant figure who has observed the league from the sidelines in various capacities. He started out as a statistician in 1984, when the league was down to seven teams and close to collapsing due to the economic crisis that gripped the nation following the Ninoy Aquino assassination the year before.
“Stats, Vintage (Enterprises, which held the broadcast rights for most of the 1980s and 90s), floor directory, panel scorer, stats editor, media bureau (chief), special assistant to the commissioner,” Marcial told The GAME in an exclusive interview as he rattled off all the jobs he has held. “Yan ang nangyari sa akin.”
The healing commissioner
In late 2017, when Chito Narvasa was forced to step down amid a crisis within the Board of Governors, Marcial found himself getting nudged upwards from Narvasa’s special assistant to the top of the totem pole. He never dreamed of being PBA commissioner, and initially those around him didn’t want him to accept the appointment.
“Ayaw ng magulang ko,” he admits. “Pero sabi nila (the Board) sa akin, ‘Kailangan ka.’”
His parents’ apprehensions were understandable. At the time, the league was reeling from the fallback of what many — including several board members — perceived to be an unfair trade between the powerhouse San Miguel Beermen and the doormat Columbian Dyip that would send prized top overall pick Christian Standhardinger to SMB for a handful of role players.
The outrage sparked a deep division among Board members and eventually led to Narvasa’s resignation. So when Marcial finally accepted the offer, he knew he was stepping into a very volatile situation.
“Alam mo na kung anong puwedeng mangyari. In-anticipate ko na mahirap. Mahirap talaga ang commissioner. Kasi minsan kakampi mo, bukas hindi mo nakakampi. So, ganyan talaga. Kailangan mapag-aralan mo yung kung paano i-handle.”
His first order of business was to bridge the deep divide that was threatening to tear the league apart. He brought the Board to Hong Kong for a bonding session.
“Kaya natawag akong ‘healing commissioner’ dahil sa mga bagay na iyan,” he said.
There’s no doubt the Board is in a better place now than it was seven-and-a-half years ago. The two factions that clashed in 2017 are, for the most part, keeping the peace.
“Buti lang lang ngayon, yung mga governors solid, nagkakaisa, at talagang sinusuportahan ako. Kung nung araw, mahirap talaga eh. Katulad na sinasabi ko, advantage ko, kilala ko lahat.
“Disadvantage ko din, kilala ko lahat.”
A legacy to uphold
Willie Marcial is the PBA’s 10th commissioner. And since he has been with the league for over 40 years, he has had the pleasure of meeting and working with most of his predecessors. This exposure has held him in good stead as he tries to navigate the league into the 2020s and beyond.
“Nakita ko sa lahat ng mga naging commissioners, may commissioners na magaling sa rules. May commissioners na magaling sa marketing. May commissioners na magaling sa PR. May commissioners na strikto. So lahat yun nakita ko.”
There are four living former PBA commissioners, and Marcial makes sure to get their advice from time to time.
“Lahat naman sila very supportive. Pag may tinatanong ako sa kanila, sinasagot naman nila, ‘Ito gawin mo, ito.’ Pag may request ako sa kanila, nandiyan din sila.”
It is fortuitous that Willie Marcial has access to so much sage advice, for the league’s path forward is filled with challenges at almost every stop. The PBA has been omnipresent in Filipino culture since launching in 1975, but truth be told, its hold on the public’s attention isn’t what it was 30 years ago. This is especially true for the Gen Z crowd, many of whom would probably have trouble naming the champion of last month’s Commissioner’s Cup.
Marcial acknowledges this perceived disconnect between the league and the next generation, and the need to address it.
“Malaking bagay ang technology. Kailangan yun ang pursigihin ng PBA, technology at paano mapapalapit sa mga fans.
“Pero ganoon na yun ever since. Ang problema nga sabi ng mga legend, ‘Comm, hindi na ako kilala ng mga ‘yan.’ Nagsalita daw si Atoy Co. Sa speech, ‘Ako po si Atoy Co.’ Kasi hindi siya kilala.”
One issue unique to Marcial’s tenure is the emergence of rival pro leagues around Asia that have been luring top Filipino talent with massive paychecks. Some of these Filipino imports are more familiar to the casual Filipino fan than most other PBA players. It’s not a stretch to say that the league’s attendance issue wouldn’t be as bad if Dwight Ramos, Kai Sotto, Carl Tamayo, Kevin Quiambao, and JD Cagulangan were all playing here.
Be that as it may, Marcial understands the economics behind it and doesn’t begrudge these players for seeking higher pay abroad.
“Kung mas makakatulong sa pamilya nila, mas makakatulong sa kinabukasan nila, bakit hindi? Pero babalik at babalik din naman sa atin yan. Kung uunlad sila doon kakabuti ng kapamilya nila, bakit natin pipigilan? Okay lang, babalik din naman sa atin. May 4-5 na bumabalik sa atin.
“So ganoon lang ang trend. Sa akin walang problema yan… Kasi mas uunlad sila, mas kikita sila doon, mas okay sa kinabukasan nila.”
Willie Marcial also hears all the criticism about unfair trades, how some teams aren’t really in it to win it, and how the rich teams keep getting richer.
“Yung sinasabi nilang parity, ginagawa naman natin lahat yun sa trade committee. Minsan hindi tugma yung nakukuha nilang player, so inaayos ko yun sa trade committee.”
On to the next 50 years
While it’s fair to say that the PBA faces many challenges as it moves forward, it’s also accurate to say that news of its demise is greatly exaggerated. The recent Commissioner’s Cup Finals between TNT and Barangay Ginebra drew a sell-out crowd for Game 7, and recent data has shown that PBA games are actually rating higher on prime time television than those of other leagues.
For Willie Marcial, he simply takes the good with the bad and trudges on.
“Nandiyan yung mga fans,” he answered when asked about the positives he sees. “Hindi talaga tayo yung iniiwanan at nag-grow. Pero nandiyan lang naman sila. Tanungin mo sila lahat, nandyan pa rin yung mga fans.”
He also knows he’s lucky to have a support system behind his back.
“Swerte ko sa mga governors na nagbibigyan ako ng advices kung anong dapat gawin. Natutulungan talaga ako ng mga governors. (At) wala akong problema sa coaches at mga players. Nakasama ko na kasi sila eh.”
If he had a wish list, it would include bringing the league’s officiating up to par with that of FIBA. “Kasi nakita ko ang officiating, iba din ang officiating natin sa FIBA. Okay na rin pero kung ma-improve pa, okay.”
Now, as the league begins its 51st year, Willie Marcial is thankful that despite all the ups and downs, the fans have remained loyal.
“Talagang nagpapasalamat ako sa mga fans. Biro mo, 50 years, nandiyan pa rin sila. Hindi sila kumakalas, eh. Pasalamat talaga ako sa mga fans, lalo na sa mga comments niyo. Nakakatulong din sa amin. Tinitignan ko lahat.
“Kaya asahan niyo, another 50 years or more ang PBA.”
Images by Kim Angela Santos.