In the golden era of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), the league was filled with larger-than-life personalities who were not just known for their skills on the court, but also for their unique and catchy nicknames. Names like “El Presidente,” “The Big J,” “The Captain,” “The Triggerman,” “The Skywalker,” “Aerial Voyager,” “The Tower of Power,” “The Flying A,” “Dynamite,” “The Rock,” “The Spark,” “Major Pain,” and “The Mighty Mouse” were synonymous with the legends of the game. These monikers added an extra layer of glamour, pizzazz, and entertainment to the league, making the players more appealing to fans and helping to market the marquee guys.
In today’s digital age, the way we market basketball superstars has evolved, but the importance of it remains the same. With the advent of social media and other digital platforms, there are now more ways than ever to promote players and engage with fans. However, according to Barangay Ginebra San Miguel veteran Jared Dillinger, the PBA needs to go back to its roots to garner more interest.
Dillinger, who was nicknamed “The Daredevil,” believes that the current superstars must be made more visible. He said, “Build up these players and market the crap out of them. I’m noticing, now, I don’t know any monikers of any current, new, generational-type guys. They’re (PBA) not building up these star players like how they used to. Everyone had a nickname back then.”
Dillinger’s co-host, former PBA star Sol Mercado, known then as “Sol Train,” agreed with him. He stressed that there needs to be definitive faces of the PBA, something that the league had plenty of when they were coming up. He said, “We had the Asi Taulavas, James Yaps, Mark Caguioas, Jimmy Alapags. Mr. President, Sol Train, The Daredevil, we had faces (of the league), bro! We had actual stars.”
Mercado also pointed out that the PBA is losing its stars to other leagues because it’s not up to par. He added, “They (PBA) got stars but I don’t think they market them that well.”
Their other co-host, Rain or Shine Elasto Painters veteran Gabe Norwood, didn’t totally agree with Mercado that the PBA is losing its stars to other leagues. He argued, “Some of these guys never even played in the PBA, so we didn’t lose them. How can you say the league lost a player when he never played in the league?” However, he echoed the suggestion that the league should build up its top guys.
Norwood, also known as “Mr. President,” named June Mar Fajardo, Jamie Malonzo, and Scottie Thompson as the current faces of the PBA. But he also made sure to mention one guy who he feels doesn’t get enough love from the league. He said, “I feel like Chris Newsome is one of the best players in the league but he’s not (being) pushed (by the PBA) like that.”
While the PBA remains the top basketball league in the country, and arguably even in the entire Asia, it is in dire need of improvements to regain its luster. As Dillinger said, “It goes back to building personalities, that’s it. Just build up these players. Market them, brand them, so people can see them, relate to them, and want to be them.”
In conclusion, while the methods of marketing basketball superstars have changed in the modern era of technology, the importance of it remains the same. The PBA needs to find a balance between embracing new marketing strategies and reverting to the tried-and-tested methods of the past to ensure the league’s superstars are properly marketed and visible to fans.
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