PBA tv ratings,attendance surge

Despite the global financial crisis, the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) continued its recovery as recorded by its big gains in terms television rating as well as at the turnstile.


According to a survey conducted by AGB AC Nielsen, the first five playing days of the 2008-09 KFC PBA Philippine Cup enjoyed an average rating of 5.48 under the watch of its new network partner Solar Sports. This represents an increase of 63 percent compared to the ratings generated by the first five gamedays of the same conference last year.

More significantly, the latest rating marks the highest the PBA has recorded in the last four years when the games were still covered by ABC 5.

Starting with the 2008-09 season, Asia’s first play-for-pay league is now being produced by Solar Sports, which holds the rights to the games over a period of three years. The PBA games are being aired on C/S 9 (free TV) and Basketball TV (cable).

"It’s heart-warming and inspiring considering the financial crisis confronting the country and the world," said league commissioner Renauld "Sonny" Barrios, reacting to the AGB AC Nielsen report. "It goes to show that the PBA is still the nation’s No.1 sports entertainment.

"I would like to assure the fans that their continued support gives us all the reasona to serve them better and try to make the games even more exciting."

Viewership of Barangay Ginebra’s first game of the season against defending champion Sta. Lucia Realty, according to the survey, drew a rating of 7.2, surpassing the ratings of the 2007 Philippine Cup Finals between the Realtors and the Purefoods TJ Giants, except for the deciding seventh game. Game 7 of that titular series recorded a high 12.98 TV rating.

The Ginebra-Sta. Lucia tiff likewise approximated the TV ratings of the Fiesta Conference Finals between the eventual champion Kings and the Air21 Express.

The league is also doing great at the gates.

According to Barrios, the first eight games of the season have attracted 47,048 live viewers or an average of 6,721.1 per playdat

Miller, Washington share POW honors





Two-time MVP Willie Miller and third-year pro Jay Washington have very few things in common. But the rare similar things they share include doing every thing they can to help their respective team.


This attitude was shown by the two in the week that was with some spectacular performances, earning for them joint honors as the KFC/Accel- PBA Press Corps’ Co-Players of the Week for the period Oct. 13 to 19.

The 5-foot-11 guard was the week’s most consistent, propping Alaska’s surge to a 4-0 win-loss card with averages of 17 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.5 steals in two games.

"Willie is truly showing the marks of a truly great player," said Aces coach Tim Cone after Miller’s 21-point, 10-rebound output in a 91-84 victory over Rain or Shine last Sunday.

In a relatively easier 89-83 win over Red Bull last Thursday in which Alaska cruised to the finish, Miller had 13 points, nine rebounds, six assists and a swipe.

"Even though he’s been struggling with his shots, he’s found ways to help the team win," added Cone. "And, of course, there’s no one better with the ball in his hands down the stretch. He knows how to close out games."

Miller showed this the most in the game against the upset-conscious Elasto Painters, scoring seven straight points in spearheading the Aces’ decisive final surge from the game’s last deadlock at 78-all.

Washington is of the same mold, already showing as he does some of the stuffs that Miller churns out on an almost regular basis.

But he has another good reason for playing his heart out last Friday against Talk ‘N Text, which dealt him to San Miguel Beer in exchange for the Beermen’s No. 3 pick overall in the Rookie Draft last Sept. 30.

"I’m facing my former team and I was aching to win," said Washington.

To prove that, Washington came through with 21 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Beermen to an 84-77 win, their third straight that jacked their record to 3-1 and solo second-running spot behind Alaska.

"They shouldn’t have given me up," said Washington then, when asked of his message to TNT.

San Miguel coach Siot Tanquingcen said he rather expected the 6’7 forward to outdo himself.

"He played well and it came out naturally. Ganadong-ganado at gigil na gigil sa practice pa lang," noted Tanquingcen of their new recruit who went into the game averaging 10.7 points and 9.3 rebounds.