PBA ties up with NBA

April 14, 2008

A landmark face-to-face meeting between NBA Commissioner David Stern and PBA Commissioner Sonny Barrios two weeks ago resulted in an across-the-globe agreement to pursue common projects that will initially cover areas in education/outreach projects, technical (officiating) management and marketing.

The private meeting between the two pro basketball leaders took place in Stern’s 15th floor office at the Olympic Tower on 645 Fifth Avenue, New York and was arranged by NBA basketball operations official Brook Meeks and Martin Conlon.

Barrios was in Sacramento, California last month to attend to his family care home business and was in New York for his daughter’s wedding when he sought an audience with his NBA counterpart before flying home.

“Commissioner Stern wanted a quick picture of how the PBA was doing, how business was, how many teams were playing, and if the quality of play has improved,” said Barrios.

“He responded positively to our request and he expressed his support for future transfer of technology and know-how projects.”

Possible areas of “collaboration” were explored and the two men agreed, among others, to undertake an “outreach project” in connection with the NBA’s “Read to Achieve” program.

Barrios proposed that NBA send children’s books to the PBA and players will be asked to read to children “perhaps in the lobby of playing venues before the games or in the PBA Office.”

A technical group from PBA will also be sent to the States to observe and learn NBA management philosophies covering training, performance and evaluation of referees.

And a plan for possible “co-branding activities and projects” with NBA Marketing was similarly discussed.

Barrios likewise met with Kelly Flatow, the NBA’s vice president for strategic marketing, and Michael Proman of Global Business Development, a marketing partner of the NBA.

“Both were pleasantly surprised to hear that Coca-Cola has a team in the PBA since Coke is a major marketing partner of the NBA,” Barrios said, adding Flatow promised to get in touch with Carlo Singson of NBA Hong Kong to discuss projects to be undertaken with the PBA.

Before winding up his NBA office visit, Barrios sat down with Paul Brazeau, vice president for basketball operations, who shared the NBA’s views on various aspects of officiating and welcomed a visit by PBA Technical Officials to the NBA to observe and learn how the NBA operates re: Technical matters.

“It was overall an enriching experience,” Barrios said.

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