PSC, PBA renew partnership

THE Philippine Sports Commission extended its all-out support to the Philippine Basketball Association in celebration of the league’s 50th anniversary.

The government sports agency now headed by Patrick “Pato” Gregorio has opened anew the doors of both the Ninoy Aquino Stadium and the iconic Rizal Memorial Coliseum to serve as game venues for the remainder of the PBA season.

The agreement was sealed on Wednesday when league Commissioner Willie Marcial personally paid a courtesy call on Gregorio in his PSC office at the fourth floor of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Gregorio likewise toured Marcial and his staff around the sports complex and showed them the refurbishing being done at the tennis court, baseball stadium, and taekwondo headquarter of the 92-year-old facility.

The meeting actually was more like a reunion for both Marcial and Gregorio.

The PSC chief and PBA commissioner once worked together, with Gregorio serving as former chairman of Asia’s first ever play-for-pay league and also as team governor of TNT.

“Masaya at maraming kuwentuhan hindi lang tungkol sa PBA, but also sa kanyang trabaho bilang chairman ng PSC,” said Marcial.

Moreover, the second oldest pro league in the world was assured of having its games in the two government-owned playing venues.

The PBA began playing again at both the Ninoy Aquino Stadium and Rizal Coliseum under Gregorio’s predecessor, Richard Bachmann – also a former team governor of the defunct Alaska franchise.

“Nagkasundo na kami na maglalaro pa rin yung PBA sa dalawang venues this season,” said Marcial.

Also discussed was the possibility of holding games at another government-owner venue, the Philsports Arena, although the Pasig-based playground is still undergoing reconstruction.