September 12, 2025 | 12:00am
LAS VEGAS – PBA commissioner Willie Marcial has a variety of unfinished enterprise on his plate as he enters his ninth yr on the helm of the professional league that’s set to launch its fiftieth season subsequent month.
PBA chairman Ricky Vargas lauded Marcial for his achievements since his appointment as commissioner in 2018 throughout a press briefing on the conclusion of the Board of Governors’ planning assembly on the MGM Grand Backyard Resort right here Tuesday. He cited Marcial’s accomplishments highlighted by staging “bubble” video games underneath strict authorities well being circumstances through the pandemic, registering an all-time excessive P200 million in web income in 2022-23, recording the very best ranges of viewership on TV, streaming and social media, bringing the PBA nearer to followers by way of out-of-town video games and outreach applications and offering all-out assist for Gilas.
For his half, Marcial thanked the Board and PBA employees for his or her assist with out which nothing might’ve been performed. He stated the long run appears vibrant for the league and with the Golden Anniversary arising, there are a number of gadgets on his want listing.
With no order of precedence, Marcial rattled off what he hopes to perform. “Sana marami pang out-of-the-country video games at magkaroon tayo ng PBA girls’s league,” he stated. One other plan is to herald NBA or FIBA officers to look at the PBA sport, share their insights and presumably, even work some contests, maybe within the Finals. NBA referees Jim Capers, Jake O’Donnell, Lee Jones, Manny Sokol and Darrell Garretson visited Manila up to now to work with PBA officers. Capers performed clinics for PBA referees in 1979, 1981, 1983 and 1994 and labored PBA Finals video games in 1981 and 1983 with Jones. Bettering PBA’s officiating requirements is a key objective for Marcial.
Additionally on Marcial’s listing is for the PBA to personal an enviornment to name residence. A three way partnership proposal to construct a stadium in Pasig fell by way of however one other web site in Quezon Metropolis is a chance with PBA vice chairman Alfrancis Chua tasked to look into it.
