Philippine Basketball Association – Opportunities, Tryouts, and Partnerships
The Philippine Basketball Association is Philippines’ men’s professional basketball league. The PBA is composed of twelve teams, each owned by a specific company.
The PBA was founded back in 1975 and was the first known professional basketball league in all of Asia, as well as the second oldest basketball league after the NBA. The regulations by which the players have to abide are a hybrid of NBA’s and FIBA’s rules (PBA, n.a.).
The PBA’s first game was played at Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, on April 9, 1975. The main offices for PBA are found in Eastwood City, Libis, Quezon City, and Eulogio Rodriguez Jr. Avenue (C-5 road) (PBA, n.a.).
Basketball Season Format
Unlike its international counterparts like the NBA, Spain ACB, and NBL, the PBA has no seasonal champion. PBA offers a season divided into conferences or tournaments in which teams compete for the Conference Cup. These winners do not go on a 1v1 type of format once all meetings end, but rather are all deemed as league champions with the Philippine Cup known to be the highest reward of the season (PBA, n.a.).
PBA 3×3 and Other Opportunities
With the advice of the vice-chair, Bobby Rosales, PBA, along with Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, partnered to implement the PBA 3×3 program, which would start this March 2020 (PBA, 2020).
The 3×3 is a stand-alone program and will be run by an executive under the directives of the PBA commissioner. The 3×3 program would provide more opportunities for Filipino basketball players since this will not only cater to the 12 PBA franchises but also participants from non-PBA teams (PBA, 2020).
The PBA 3×3 will open its doors not only to energetic participants and non-participants of the PBA but those who were deemed inactive, regardless of their ages. The SBP and PBA have high hopes for this to eliminate inclusivity as well as compete in the Olympic qualifiers for the Tokyo Olympics set in 2024 (PBA, 2020).
Other than the PBA 3X3, they offer more opportunities for aspiring professional Filipino basketball players, and this is through the three leagues they currently have. For kids, it is the Batang PBA. For teens and other competitions in the Municipal, it is the Metro League and the D-League for the semi-professional league before they become eligible for drafting in the PBA (Hernandez, 2019).
Salaries
Basketball is one of the highest-paying jobs, but the king of kings when it comes to salary still and will always probably be the NBA; however, this does not mean that other leagues, such as Spain ACB, NBL, and even PBA, are drastically left behind.
Far from it, some of the PBA players get paid millions. Unfortunately, due to the privacy act, the salaries for the top 5 basketball players were not disclosed, and these are June Mar Fajardo, Greg Slaughter, Calvin Abueva, Asi Taulava, and Arwind Santos (Das, 2019). Though not official, here is an estimate of the player’s incomes: Fajardo – PHP 465 000 per month, Slaughter – PHP 450 000 per month, Abueva – 440 000 per month, Taulava – 435 000 and Santos – 425 000 per month. These values round up to approximately $10 000 per month (BZU, 2019).
Philippine Basketball Association Bonuses
As for the team itself, they make around PHP 50M per season, and clubs tend to give PHP 6000 to PHP 8000 per won games and PHP 10 000 final games. Bonuses are given one-fourth of his total salary when they reach the quarter-finals and three-fourths if they should reach the semi-finals. If they reach the finals, not only do their salaries double, but they receive half of their total wages, amounting to twice and a half of their full salaries (Spin Staff, 2019).
Tryouts
All players should be born in the Philippines, and this includes individuals who chose to be a citizen in the Philippines before the age of maturity.
For local players, they are required to be 21 years old and completed four years of college with a degree. He is required to play seven games of a conference in the PBA Developmental League and must be at least 5’6” inches in height or 1.68m.
Filipino-foreigners, they also have the same requirements but should have at least seven games in two conferences with the exemption of being 27 years or older.
They must provide the necessary documents from the Bureau of Immigration and the Department of Justice, which prove their citizenship. If they finished from a school outside of the Philippines and did not take any courses in the Philippines, four years must have passed after their graduation. Lastly, they must sign a contract with PBA if and only if, they are released from their previous contract (if applicable) (PBA, n.a.).
Top Players with Filipino Roots
Senior United States High school Basketball Player Jalen Green out of Proflic Prep in Northern, California town of NAPA has Filipino roots. Jalen is #2 in the ESPN top 60 recruiting rankings. He has his choice of top collegiate programs such as Kentucky, Oregon, UCLA, Cal Berkley, Arizona, and other top programs. Jalen Green is an excellent person to inspire other Filipinos to pursue basketball opportunities in the United States and abroad.
Filipino Players in the NBA
Jordan Taylor Clarkson is another professional basketball player in the NBA with Filipino roots. He plays for the Utah Jazz. Jordan played college basketball at Missouri, where he earned 2nd team all-conference honors in the (SEC). He entered the 2014 NBA draft after his junior year and was chosen by the Washington Wizards in the 2nd round with the 46th overall pick.
Why The Philippines is a Great Place To Play and Visit
- The country’s official languages are Filipino (Tagalog) and English
- The Philippines is the fifth largest English-speaking nation behind the U.S., India, Pakistan, and the U.K.
- A very caring country as 11% of the population of the Philippines – more than 11 million people – work overseas. The Philippines is #1 supplier of nurses in the world
- Filipinos are love basketball and the NBA. The Philippines Basketball Association (PBS) is the 2nd oldest basketball organization in the world behind the NBA
- Filipino’s also love boxing as when Manny Pacquiao fights; the entire county shuts down.
- The Philippines is predominantly Christian, with 90% practicing that religion. They are a country that follows the tenants of the fruits of the spirit.
- Filipinos are very social, friendly, and love spending time with family and friends, so if you play basketball here, you will not be lonely.
- The Philippines is a growing nation with over 100 million people and an economical annual growth rate of 2 percent; it’s also one of the fastest developing countries in the world.
- The Philippines islands are some of the most beautiful island ins the world and a favorite destination of the worlds frequent travelers being named the best island in the world by Condé Nast Traveler, Travel & Leisure, and other publications.
- The is plenty of culture and community as well as things to do as Filipinos LOVE their shopping malls! That include gyms, grocery stores, banks, health clinics, and nightclubs; The Philippines is home to some of the world largest shopping malls such as The Mega Fashion Hall of SM Megamall
- Politeness is an art, joy, community; music is the heart of the Philippines. From my experience, growing up, Filipinos are warm, happy, and have a great sense of humor!
Philippine Basketball Association History & Partnerships
The PBA was founded back when players moved from the Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association (MICAA), which was controlled by the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP), the national association recognized by FIBA at the time (PBA, n.a.).
With BAP’s control of the MICAA, the league did not discriminate against their players and was open to all. Players, though, were only paid allowances and not yet salaries. Since playing in the Olympics had various requirements, this was one of the steps they had to do to be qualified to perform. Back then, the owners of the MICAA were not pleased with how Gonzalo Puyat was running BAP since he was stealing their players to play for the national team without prior consultation.
Teams That Left PBA
The teams which pulled out from the MICAA were the following: Crispa Redmanizers, Mariwasa-Noritake Poorcelainmakers, Carrier Weathermakers, Royal Tru-Orange, Presto Ice Cream, Tanduay Distillery, Seven-Up Uncolas, U/Tex Weavers and Toyota Comments (PBA, n.a.).
Original Leaders of the PBA
The first commissioner appointed was Coach Leopoldo Prieto, he was the coach for the Philippines at the 1956 Olympics.
Emerson Coseteng of Mariwasa-Noritake was the first president elected by the Board of Governors (PBA, n.a.).
The first game, back in April 1975 at the Araneta Coliseum, featured the Mariwasa-Noritake and Concepcion Carrier, teams. In the 80s, the most popular clubs were Ginebra San Miguel (Or Ginebra for short) and Jaworski for their persevering attitude. Both sides were rivals with Tanduay Rhum Masters and Fernandez (now known as Purefoods Corporation) with players Patrimonio, Lastimosa, Fernandez, and Codiñera (PBA, n.a.).
In the 90s, Ginebra and Shell were now the dominating rivals when Shell defeated Ginebra and then made a comeback of 3 is to 1, the losses being in 1991 in the First Conference (PBA, n.a.).
Jumping to the early 2010s, the third game by the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals was between Ginebra San Miguel and Alaska Aces with an all-time attendance of 23, 436 audiences at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. However, this record was further broken back in 2014 in the game between GSM and San Mig Super Coffee Mixers with an all-time basketball attendee of 24, 883 (PBA, n.a.).
Philippine Basketball Association Conclusion
The PBA provides so many opportunities for any individuals and is known to never discriminate with its players. All good basketball players are welcome to join the PBA. However, take into consideration that you will be playing in a different region, so be sure to research appropriately before getting yourself drafted in the league.
PBA References:
Basketball Zone Updates. (2019). Highest paid PBA players this 2019 PBA season.
Retrieved on March 14, 2020 from
https://www.facebook.com/992159490867171/posts/top-1-5-highest-paid-pba-
players-this-2019-pba-seasontop-1-june-mar-fajardoteam-/2182007908548984/.
Das, S. (2019). Top 10 Richest PBA Athletes In the World. Sports Show. Retrieved on
March 13, 2020, from https://sportsshow.net/richest-pba-athletes/.
Hernandez, E. (2019). PBA providing opportunities through partner leagues. Manila
Bulletin. Retrieved on March 14, 2020 from
https://sports.mb.com.ph/2019/01/17/pba-providing-opportunities-through-partner-
leagues/.
Philippine Basketball Association. (n.a.). About PBA. Retrieved on March 13, 2020, from
https://www.pba.ph/about-us.
Philippine Basketball Association (n.a.). PBA D-League Requirements. Retrieved on
March 13, 2020, from https://pba.ph/events/2020-pba-d-league-draft-requirements.
Philippine Basketball Association. (2020). PBA, SBP firm up partnership, pro league to
launch 3×3 in March. Retrieved on March 13, 2020, from
https://www.pba.ph/news/pba-sbp-firm-up-partnership-pro-league-to-launch-3×3-in-
march.
Spin, S. (2019). Wondering how much PBA champs make in salary and bonuses?
Spin.ph. Retrieved on March 13, 2020 from https://www.spin.ph/life/guide/pba-
players-salary-a1374-20190518-lfrm.