The big appointment could’ve not come at a more appropriate time.
The first big statement Chito Narvasa made upon being confirmed as the ninth commissioner of the PBA zeroed in on the visibly deteriorated conduct of games in the local pro league.
Narvasa said he hopes to improve games, in order to make the future of the league secure.
* * *
“What our coaches want is for officiating to be fair and consistent,” Narvasa told veteran sports columnist and commentator Joaquin Henson. “I’m hoping to set standards for our referees, just like we set standards for all our players.”
After the standards have been set, Narvasa said he “plans to upgrade those standards.”
As expected, Narvasa has given priority to problematic officiating.
* * *
In the recent PBA Dubai series, the games were nearly cancelled after one contest went out of hand at least three times on the floor.
“We’ve a job to do, if it involves a fine then so be it,” Narvasa said. “My promise to coaches is I’ll listen to them, we respect each other and I will treat them the same way.”
Still on that Dubai series, the dirty floor skirmishes proved unpalatable although the games themselves were wanting in better skills and dedication from many players, who were either overfed or simply lazy.
* * *
It’s hard to call this league defect mediocrity, but out in our city wet market, a hub for work-force sports diehards, they continued to long for the old days when regular PBA games would leap legendary purely on the great skills and talent of rival competitors.
Today, these same poor fans would’ve to wait long until a conference best-of-seven finals in order to savor classy hard-fought championship games.
No, Narvasa was not saying he would wage a war against mediocrity, but it goes without saying he would demand deeper dedication and professionalism.
He has vowed to set standards for all players.
Narvasa formally takes over as PBA commissioner on Aug. 1.
* * *
In the NBA, the Houston Rockets showed there’ll be no room for mediocrity in the US pro basketball ranks with a 128-115 comeback win over Golden State Warriors on Tuesday (Manila time).
The Rockets did look unfit for the series after the Warriors blasted them off their homecourt on the 40-point output of reigning MVP Stephen Curry in Game 3 of the Western Conference playoffs.
The Rockets, down 3-1, go for a repeat win when they visit the Oracle Arena, home court of the Warriors today.
The game should reignite the mano-a-mano between Curry and scoring rival James Harden who scored an amazing 45 points to lead Houston on Tuesday.
Curry suffered a frightening head-first fall in the second quarter of Game 4 on Tuesday.
While many spectators feared the accident could’ve landed him in the hospital, Curry secured protocol clearance and later rejoined the game to resume his scoring ways.
Meanwhile, the LeBron James-powered Cleveland Cavaliers swept their Eastern Conference playoffs with the Atlanta Hawks, 118-88, yesterday. It marks James’ fifth straight stint in the NBA Finals.