I haven't been blogging for a month and I rarely blog anything with substance since the end of last year.
I have been doing something.
I don't know if I can talk about it but I guess it's time for me to unleash a bunch of videos that may or may not be the reasons why my blog content took a hit.
While I have written a couple of plugs for the PBA, Asian Games, SEA Games, ESPN, PBL, Manny Pacquiao fights, other boxing matches, golf, and TNA Impact... this is the first time I am going to write plugs for Philippine college basketball. Writing for the PBA and these other brands, I was used to putting a lot of content within a three-month window and changing the plugs as the season nears. I never cared about worldwide reach and other broadcast requirements. I did a plug for WNCAA in a form of a slum book and I did a plug for a boxing show in which a created a story with the two fighters trying their best to gain the ring girl's affection.
I also made an emo plug for the PBA.
Oh, how I miss using songs with lyrics.
How I miss the years of the SAMPLERS!!!
Ahem.
I must admit that while the NCAA campaign has driven me insane a bunch of times, I like how it ended up. As I said, I never cared about broadcast details and this is such an eye-opener. Also, I did these sports things when I just got out of college. It has been two decades since I worked as a researcher for Bill Velasco's late-night SEA Games recap for PTV-4 at the National Sports Grill.
Anyway, for the first time in decades, the NCAA is finally given the recognition it deserves. Now, it's going head-to-head with the UAAP. For the first time in decades, there are now Saturday and Sunday NCAA basketball games.
If the UAAP has the best college stars, the NCAA has the players who will become future Hall of Famers. At the moment, the PBA has a collection of blue-collared ballers like Calvin Abueva, Scottie Thompson, Robert Bolick, CJ Perez, Ian Sangalang, Baser Amer, Calvin Oftana, Jayson Castro, Jio Jalalon, and Beau Belga at the moment (Castro and Belga when the PCU Dolphins were still part of the NCAA). Once upon a time, the league boasted a lot of big-time HOFs like Alvin Patrimonio, Philip Cezar, Atoy Co, Vergel Meneses, Bong Hawkins, Freddie Hubalde, Kerby Raymundo, and Willie Miller, to name a few inside their court.
Anyway, there were kinks on their initial broadcast but this is going to help the GMA broadcast in the long run. The overall presentation of the arena made the LSGH gym crowded in a good way and the commentators are both entertaining and informative.
I don't like the current season format though. I know they designed the season to withstand potential lockdown threats. They should reconsider though because the other league employs a double round-robin scheme similar to their previous seasons.
I do, however, like the fact that there are no foreign players. Not to be discriminating, but the country needs to develop big men and while it's better for the players to fight for spots, I still think it's better for players to also improve because of playing time and with plays set up for them.
Sure, Rhenz Abando starred for the Letran Knights in the opener against the CSB Blazers, but it was Jeo Ambohot, Pau Javillonar, and Louie Sangalang who delivered the killer blows. The same can be said in the San Beda win over the LPU Pirates with JP Bahio taking control.
It's nice to talk about these names because I have never done anything NCAA-related in about a decade except for broadcast rants.