Improving the PBA Live Broadcast

Let's face it...not since the days of Joe Cantada has the PBA had a commanding presence in its broadcast booth. He had the rare blend of a huge, baritone voice, intellect, yet passion for the game. A few times he was quite funny as well and even challenged the players on his broadcasts when they weren't doing so well.

Photo by Al Shaver

Fast forward twenty years later and the PBA has not found the same magic with its group of broadcasting panel. I would have to say the last play-by-play announcer that made me watch the game even if I didn't know who was playing was Chino Trininad. Then he left for the PBL and that's that. Though he didn't have the deep baritone voice that play-by-play commentators need, he had that quick wit and could transfer from English to Tagalog in a snap. He knew street words on basketball whether they were streets from Tondo or New York. I don't have the stats for the broadcasts but I can't imagine they are higher now than before. In short, he made the game exciting yet funny, and he was good at it. It didn't matter who his color person was, he carried the broadcast. And his color commentators got excited broadcasting along side him as well. You had to bring your "A" game talking with him.

I've heard the current broadcasters and unfortunately they just don't fly for me. They try. No one faults them for that. But it's just not there. No, Boom Gonzales is not the next Joe Cantada. He tries, but no dice.

Based on thousands of NBA broadcasts I've seen in a lifetime, and hundred of football broadcasts I saw while living in Latin America, here are the basic requirements for an interesting broadcast:

1-) Play-by-play announcer with a deep, baritone voice, but can speak as fast as the ball moves. But important, he has to have genuine PASSION for the game.

2-) This announcer should prepare, prepare, prepare-- he should know his data, player names, favorite moves, and industry statistics, etc.

3-) He should also set-up his color commentator like the point guard that carries the ball most of the time, and dishes it off to his color partner to finish at the right time.

Photo by Francis CHICK HEARN'

4-) He may be allowed to disagree with his color partner once in a while. Many a times the best part of watching a Laker game for me was watching the great Chick Hearn and Stu Lantz go at it. This especially helps when the game is boring such as blowouts or non-bearing games.

5-) The color commentator MUST and I repeat, MUST be an expert. Meaning: he either PLAYED the game at the highest levels, or COACHED the game at the highest levels. Having international experience would even help-- as he'd be able to compare one style of play to another (and we're not just talking NBA here.)

6-) As with NBA broadcasts of ESPN with Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy, a combination of two color commentators have helped: one elite player, and one elite coach. This is actually the best as we see the vantage points from two parties most actively involved in any game.

7-) In their broadcasts, Van Gundy and Jackson do go at each other once in a while. It just adds to the entertainment and hey-- basketball is entertainment isn't it?

8-) Courtside reporters should ask the players questions that make them think. Don't spoonfeed the answers within the questions.

9-) Stick with one, at most two sets of broadcasters. It's confusing watching a PBA game and figuring out who's playing for who, who's coaching for who, and who the hell is broadcasting. Oh. Sev Sarmenta. I thought he was doing volleyball? The best games I watched in the PBA was turning the telly on, and knowing Joe and the Doctor would be in front of our faces. Its confusing! New teams, new players, new broadcasters...it's like watching an NCAA game.

10-) More statistics, less talk. More scouting reports, less opinion. New broadcasters, new experts. I'm sorry, but Sev Sarmenta and the "Dean" have seen their better days. Their broadcasting ways and knowledge of the game is obsolete. I love'em, but there's nothing they say I can't find on the internet.

Photo by Minnie at Disney World (2)

And please...no more cheezy nicknames! Please! Captain Braveheart? The Aerial Voyager? What is this  the Disney Channel?