To be known as the best domestic shipping companyin Southern Luzon and Visayas Region that provides the highest value-for-money service to its customers while meeting profitability target. – Starhorse Shipping Lines Inc.’s vision statement
When a new corporation like Starhorse Shipping Lines asks to be a member of the Philippine basketball Association, several things must be ascertained. Firstly, what is their intention in joining the league? Will it be a marketing strategy, or are they there to compete and win championships? Given their track record in the MPBL, it appears that the owners are bent to compete and become contenders off the bat. Even if a losing team gets the same two hours of commercial exposure per game, some team owners just cannot stomach losing.
Secondly, are they financially capable of sustaining a professional team that requires hundreds of millions of pesos annually? The PBA will definitely go over their books to prove that they will be there for the long haul, pun intended. They may need sponsors or other investors to assure this. On the other hand, being in the PBA just might take them over the top. If you recall, past expansion members experienced a surge in sales just by being in the league, some even went to the extent of expanding their manufacturing facilities to keep up with demand. So that’s the proverbial chicken and egg situation.
The PBA has already taken a step to protect the newcomer by restricting trades involving the existing Terrafirma Dyip. In past expansion situations, shrewd team owners traded away or sold off the contracts of their best players, leaving the incoming company with virtually nothing but an empty shell. This time around, the PBA is making sure that that will not happen again.
In 1988, when Purefoods joined the league, they were allowed a concession to directly recruit four players from the national team. Alvin Patrimonio, Jerry Codiñera, Jojo Latimosa and Glen Capacio did not go through the Rookie Draft, and immediately made the Hotdogs an All-Filipino Conference contender. Will the PBA do this again, and allow Starhorse to pick from the college ranks to shore up its roster? Even an expansion draft may not be effective, leaving benchwarmers for the new team to select.
Star horse may also be well-served to pick up some recognizable veterans in its initial lineup. Gone are the days when fans followed teams, no matter what. Today, they follow individual players instead; each new superstar carries his own fan base from college to the pros. Adding former, even retired All-Stars will immediately boost their recognition factor.
Even with all the advantages, it may take a while for Starhorse to win championships. None of the other teams will want to lose to the newcomer. What’s important is that they put up a good fight, display college-style intensity, and grow with every game. They will earn the respect of the audience, and their opponents. They are at the big boys’ table now they will have to prove themselves and we wish them the best of luck.
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