PBA on ABC
Encyclopedia
The PBA on ABC was a presentation of Philippine Basketball Association
games by the Associated Broadcasting Company
. The PBA on ABC premiered on February 22, 2004
, replacing the previous broadcaster of the games, National Broadcasting Network
and Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation
(PBA on NBN/IBC).
and the Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation
after the 2003 season
, and took bids on a new broadcast contract for the league. In January 2004, the PBA began a contract with the Associated Broadcasting Company
to broadcast PBA games for one year, beating bids from Solar Sports
and a group led by former Vintage Television
staff member Bobong Velez. The new ABC operation picked up talent from the former NBN/IBC coverage, including Mico Halili, Quinito Henson
, Paolo Trillo and Norman Black
. Ed Picson was also hired by ABC, after a two-year hiatus from covering the PBA due to a fallout between him and Viva-TV in 2002.
After the 2004-05
PBA Philippine Cup, the league and the network extended the contract for the 2005 Fiesta Conference. After the contract expired in 2005, despite a low amount of money offered, the league chose ABC over Solar Sports
, who had a much bigger bid than the former. ABC and the PBA then signed a three-year deal that expired after the 2007-08 season. Citing financial constraints, ABC backed out of bidding for a new contract beginning in the 2008-09 season. After a bidding war with ABS-CBN, Solar Sports
(alongside was awarded the new contract.
ABC then decided not to join the bidding process for the 2008-09 season's PBA coverage, citing financial constraints. Solar Sports
, through local network Radio Philippines Network (RPN)
, would the new broadcast partner of the PBA for the following season.
Even though the network would be dropping the PBA, ABC still rebranded their PBA coverage during their August 2008 relaunch as TV5 in the middle of the 2008 PBA Fiesta Conference Finals
(which would also be the final games shown by the network). The final PBA game shown on ABC/TV5 was Game 7 of the Fiesta Conference finals between the Air21 Express
and Barangay Ginebra Kings
on August 20, 2008. Mico Halili and Paranaque councilor Jason Webb were the commentators for its last run.
Philippine Basketball Association
The Philippine Basketball Association , is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines composed of 10 company-branded franchised teams. It is the first and oldest professional basketball league in Asia and the second oldest in the world after the NBA...
games by the Associated Broadcasting Company
Associated Broadcasting Company
The Associated Broadcasting Company, Inc is a television network in the Philippines, with main broadcast facilities and transmitter located at 762 Quirino Highway, San Bartolome, Novaliches, Quezon City. The network was previously known as the , Associated Broadcasting Company remains the legal...
. The PBA on ABC premiered on February 22, 2004
2004 PBA Fiesta Conference
The 2004 PBA Fiesta Conference, or known as the 2004 Gran Matador Brandy-PBA Fiesta Conference for sponsorship reasons, was tournament held by the Philippine Basketball Association and the first ever edition of the PBA Fiesta Conference....
, replacing the previous broadcaster of the games, National Broadcasting Network
National Broadcasting Network
People's Television is the flagship government television network owned by the Philippine Government through People's Television Network, Inc. . Its head office, studios and transmitter are located at Broadcast Complex, Visayas Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City .-History:The country's government...
and Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation
Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation
Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation is a Philippine VHF television network of the Government Communications Group headed by the Press Secretary. Its studios are located at Broadcast City, Old Balara, Capitol Hills, Diliman, Quezon City and its transmitter is located at the Coca Cola plant,...
(PBA on NBN/IBC).
History
Due to poor performance and disappointing ratings, the PBA disbanded a broadcasting consortium between the National Broadcasting NetworkNational Broadcasting Network
People's Television is the flagship government television network owned by the Philippine Government through People's Television Network, Inc. . Its head office, studios and transmitter are located at Broadcast Complex, Visayas Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City .-History:The country's government...
and the Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation
Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation
Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation is a Philippine VHF television network of the Government Communications Group headed by the Press Secretary. Its studios are located at Broadcast City, Old Balara, Capitol Hills, Diliman, Quezon City and its transmitter is located at the Coca Cola plant,...
after the 2003 season
2003 PBA season
The 2003 PBA Season was the 29th season of the Philippine Basketball Association .-Notable occurrences:*The NBN/IBC consortium took over the league's TV coverage after winning the TV rights over the league's longtime TV partner Vintage Television in December 2002.*Noli Eala became the league's...
, and took bids on a new broadcast contract for the league. In January 2004, the PBA began a contract with the Associated Broadcasting Company
Associated Broadcasting Company
The Associated Broadcasting Company, Inc is a television network in the Philippines, with main broadcast facilities and transmitter located at 762 Quirino Highway, San Bartolome, Novaliches, Quezon City. The network was previously known as the , Associated Broadcasting Company remains the legal...
to broadcast PBA games for one year, beating bids from Solar Sports
Solar Sports
Solar Entertainment Corporation which also created its sister stations, Talk TV, The Game Channel, ETC, 2nd Avenue, Jack TV, Universal Channel, Diva Universal & Basketball TV, Solar Sports or the Solar Sports Network is a Philippine sports channel owned by Solar Entertainment Corporation...
and a group led by former Vintage Television
Vintage Television
180px|rightVintage Television is a sports-oriented media company and became well known as the TV coverage partner of Philippine Basketball Association from 1982 to 1999...
staff member Bobong Velez. The new ABC operation picked up talent from the former NBN/IBC coverage, including Mico Halili, Quinito Henson
Quinito Henson
Quinito Henson is a Filipino sports analyst and television color commentator. His newspaper column, Sporting Chance, has appeared in the Philippine Star since the 1980s...
, Paolo Trillo and Norman Black
Norman Black
Norman Augustus Black is an American retired professional basketball player in the CBA, NBA, and PBA who has since settled in the Philippines. He is also a former head coach of the San Miguel Beermen, Mobiline Phone Pals, Pop Cola 800s, and Sta. Lucia Realtors...
. Ed Picson was also hired by ABC, after a two-year hiatus from covering the PBA due to a fallout between him and Viva-TV in 2002.
After the 2004-05
2004-05 PBA season
The 2004-05 PBA season is the 30th season of the Philippine Basketball Association. Instead of the usual calendar year of February-December, the league changed its schedule to the current October-July format, while limiting the number of conferences from three to two...
PBA Philippine Cup, the league and the network extended the contract for the 2005 Fiesta Conference. After the contract expired in 2005, despite a low amount of money offered, the league chose ABC over Solar Sports
Solar Sports
Solar Entertainment Corporation which also created its sister stations, Talk TV, The Game Channel, ETC, 2nd Avenue, Jack TV, Universal Channel, Diva Universal & Basketball TV, Solar Sports or the Solar Sports Network is a Philippine sports channel owned by Solar Entertainment Corporation...
, who had a much bigger bid than the former. ABC and the PBA then signed a three-year deal that expired after the 2007-08 season. Citing financial constraints, ABC backed out of bidding for a new contract beginning in the 2008-09 season. After a bidding war with ABS-CBN, Solar Sports
Solar Sports
Solar Entertainment Corporation which also created its sister stations, Talk TV, The Game Channel, ETC, 2nd Avenue, Jack TV, Universal Channel, Diva Universal & Basketball TV, Solar Sports or the Solar Sports Network is a Philippine sports channel owned by Solar Entertainment Corporation...
(alongside was awarded the new contract.
ABC then decided not to join the bidding process for the 2008-09 season's PBA coverage, citing financial constraints. Solar Sports
Solar Sports
Solar Entertainment Corporation which also created its sister stations, Talk TV, The Game Channel, ETC, 2nd Avenue, Jack TV, Universal Channel, Diva Universal & Basketball TV, Solar Sports or the Solar Sports Network is a Philippine sports channel owned by Solar Entertainment Corporation...
, through local network Radio Philippines Network (RPN)
Radio Philippines Network
Radio Philippines Network, Inc. is a broadcast television network in the Philippines co-owned by the Government Communications Group, Solar Entertainment Corporation, Far East Managers and Investors Inc., and private sectors. This station studios are located at Broadcast City, Old Balara, Capitol...
, would the new broadcast partner of the PBA for the following season.
Even though the network would be dropping the PBA, ABC still rebranded their PBA coverage during their August 2008 relaunch as TV5 in the middle of the 2008 PBA Fiesta Conference Finals
2008 PBA Fiesta Conference
The 2008 Philippine Basketball Association Fiesta Conference or known as the 2008 Smart PBA Fiesta Conference for sponsorship reasons, is the last conference of the 2007-08 PBA season. The tournament began on March 29 with a game between the Coca-Cola Tigers and the Talk 'N Text Phone Pals at...
(which would also be the final games shown by the network). The final PBA game shown on ABC/TV5 was Game 7 of the Fiesta Conference finals between the Air21 Express
Air21 Express
The Barako Bull Energy is a Philippine Basketball Association team that began in 2002.Barako Bull is owned by Energy Food and Drinks Inc., a subsidiary of the Linaheim Corporate Services, owners of the defunct Laguna Lakers of the Metropolitan Basketball Association...
and Barangay Ginebra Kings
Barangay Ginebra Kings
The Barangay Ginebra Kings is a professional basketball team of the Philippine Basketball Association founded in 1979 and owned by the Ginebra San Miguel, Inc., a subsidiary of the San Miguel Corporation...
on August 20, 2008. Mico Halili and Paranaque councilor Jason Webb were the commentators for its last run.
Play-by-play
- Charlie Cuna
- Mico Halili
- Mon Liboro
- Ed Picson
- Richard del Rosario
- Benjie Santiago
- Boyet Sison
- Paolo Trillo
Color
- Norman BlackNorman BlackNorman Augustus Black is an American retired professional basketball player in the CBA, NBA, and PBA who has since settled in the Philippines. He is also a former head coach of the San Miguel Beermen, Mobiline Phone Pals, Pop Cola 800s, and Sta. Lucia Realtors...
- Rado Dimalibot
- Quinito HensonQuinito HensonQuinito Henson is a Filipino sports analyst and television color commentator. His newspaper column, Sporting Chance, has appeared in the Philippine Star since the 1980s...
- Peter Martin
- Barry Pascua
- Chot ReyesChot ReyesVincent P. Reyes , better known as Chot Reyes, is a Filipino basketball head coach of the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters in the Philippine Basketball Association...
- Eric ReyesEric ReyesEric Reyes is a Puerto Rican international soccer player who plays college soccer for Florida International University, as a goalkeeper.-Career:...
- Dominic Uy
- Jason WebbJason WebbJason Webb is a former professional soccer player and a Partner and Co-Founder of Soccer Shots, a national soccer program based in the Harrisburg, Pa. area that introduces children ages 3 – 8 to the game of soccer, as well as character development and fundamental life skills.Webb moved from...
Courtside reporters
- Peaches Aberin
- Patricia Bermudez-HizonPatricia Bermudez-HizonPatricia Bermudez-Hizon is a sportscaster and television host in the Philippines. She is the first ever female basketball television and radio anchor in the country. She started as a courtside reporter for the PBA in...
- Stephanie Cueva
- Joy Delorey
- Miakka Lim
- Magoo Marjon
- Niña Sison
- Marga Vargas
- Rheena Villamor
Previous commentators and courtside reporters
- Vitto Lazatin (2004)
- TJ ManotocTJ ManotocTJ Manotoc - is a Filipino news anchor and sportscaster of ABS-CBN and Studio 23. He is also a former star reporter of defunct Frontpage of veteran journalist Mel Tiangco on GMA network. A son of Tommy Manotoc a former PBA coach and Miss International Aurora Pijuan and half-brother of Borgy Manotoc...
(2004) - Jude Turcuato (2004–2005)
- Rheema Chanco (2004–2005)
- Gretchen MalaladGretchen MalaladGretchen Malalad is a Filipina 2005 Southeast Asian Games karate gold medalist and a former beauty pageant contestant in Binibining Pilipinas 2002 where she emerged Ms. Talent and Ms. Red Bull Supreme. She was also a housemate in Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Edition...
(2004) - Jannelle SoJannelle SoJannelle So is a Filipino expatriate journalist and broadcaster known for her work as the host of Kababayan L.A., a daily show for and about Filipinos airing on KSCI television....
(2004)
See also
- Philippine Basketball AssociationPhilippine Basketball AssociationThe Philippine Basketball Association , is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines composed of 10 company-branded franchised teams. It is the first and oldest professional basketball league in Asia and the second oldest in the world after the NBA...
- Associated Broadcasting CompanyAssociated Broadcasting CompanyThe Associated Broadcasting Company, Inc is a television network in the Philippines, with main broadcast facilities and transmitter located at 762 Quirino Highway, San Bartolome, Novaliches, Quezon City. The network was previously known as the , Associated Broadcasting Company remains the legal...
- iPBAIPBA (TV series)iPBA was a television program that aired on Associated Broadcasting Company that serves as a sort of recap and analysis show reviewing the week's previous games in the Philippine Basketball Association, complete with top plays and special moments....