One banner season deserves another

HONG KONG – One banner season deserves another.
                The considerable gains attained by the Philippine
Basketball Association (PBA) last year has made new chairman Mamerto
Mondragon of Rain or Shine optimistic about the new playing calendar
of the league set to kick off on Oct. 2 at the Araneta Coliseum.
                Part of that optimism is matching, or even surpassing
the P90 million gross receipt posted by the league under Mondragon’s
predecessor, Rene Pardo of B-Meg.
                “It’s attainable,” said Mondragon, who has been
associated with the Rain or Shine franchise for a long time now.
                The soft-spoken league official said the backing of
the rest of the Board and commissioner Chito Salud makes the objective
realistic enough.
                “I’m still feeling my way around,”Mondragon said.
“Medyo nangangapa pa. Anyway, andiyan pa rin yung mga Governors, so
they are there to assist me”
                Pardo assured his successor of the Board’s all-out
support to the chairmanship of Mondragon, the way he was backed during
this term.
“I’m sure Atty. Mondragon is very able. And he will have the 100
percent support of everybody,” said the former PBA chairman.

The entry of a new  coveror in TV5, the retention of the three
conference format, and the significant increase in attendance are some
of the factors Mondragon cited that could help the league sustain the
success achieved last year.

                The entry of rookie players, especially those coming
from the Smart Gilas-Pilipinas team, is expected to give a breath of
fresh air to the league, according to the chairman, whose team
acquired streak-shooting guard Paul Lee of University of the East with
the no. 2 overall pick in the recent Rookie Draft.
                The unlimited height ceiling for imports in the second
conference as approved by the Board during its annual planning session
here, could also add new spice to the season, Mondragon added.
                “With some improvements, we strongly believe we have
another winner this coming season,” said the chairman.
                And then there’s TV5, which sealed a deal to be the
official coveror of the PBA for the next five years.
                “We (TV5) trust them, and nangako naman sila that they
will definitely try to make a difference,” the chairman pointed
out.(pr)