SOURCES SAY FANS REJOICE AS PAYWALL REMOVED FROM PBA LIVESTREAM

UNABLE to watch the PBA games live on television? Relax, the games are now available on YouTube and fans can watch it for free and on demand, here and abroad.

This was after the local broadcaster, Cignal, allowed the streaming of the games following a clamor from fans who could not watch it without a television set. But two weeks ago, the PBA, the broadcaster and YouTube forged an agreement to air it for free.

Before this, there was a paywall to watch the games on YouTube, meaning one had to pay to watch the games "live."

PBA games were streamed on YouTube at the start of the conference, but only select games were shown with a slight delay. Now all PBA games are available and shown "live" as they happen beginning with the October 22 matches of Converge against Terrafirma and NLEX versus Phoenix.

"Malaking bagay ‘yung maraming platforms tayo," said PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial. "Para naman sa kanila ito. Nagpapasalamat talaga ako na nasa YouTube na tayo." 

The decision to broadcast the PBA on YouTube was welcome news for fans who have been hoping that the games could be seen on the popular platform specially because other leagues, for example, the MPBL, are available on YouTube. Viewers previously settled for illegal sites for streams, especially those overseas, to be able to watch the games.

The PBA has been wanting that all their games be aired on livestream for free to gain a wider reach. However, Cignal/ TV5, which owns the league’s broadcast rights, is the one which makes the call on which platforms to broadcast the games, including showing the games on livestream, sometimes, with a fee.

That changed two weeks ago when the PBA’s broadcast partner finally gave in to the fans’ clamor – certainly a win-win for the PBA and, most importantly, its ardent followers. - Reuben Terrado

Gilas 'hands off' on Phillips, Ladi until end of UAAP season

MIKE Phillips and Kymani Ladi may have been named part of the Gilas Pilipinas squad for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand, but they are not expected to be immediately availble for the national team

SPIN.ph sources bared that the UAAP has informed the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) that the two players can only join the Gilas practice depending on how their respective teams fare in the ongoing UAAP basketball tournament.

That means that unless La Salle, where Philips plays, and Ateneo, Ladi's team, bow out early, that will be the time when they are finally released and allowed to join the national team practice.

Currently, the UAAP Season 88 eliminations is set to finish by Nov. 23 or Nov. 26, if there will be a playoff.

La Salle, currently with a 6-4 record, and Ateneo, sporting a 4-5 card, are in the thick of the Final Four race in what has been one of the tightest UAAP elimination series in years.

The Final Four, if they make it, is set to start on Nov. 30 and if the tournament goes the distance, meaning that the semifinals and the championship series extend to a full series, the players may not be available until Dec. 14.

Incidentally, the basketball competitions in the SEA Games will start on Dec. 13.

Veejay Pre, the other amateur in the roster, is cleared to practice with Gilas as he’s still serving his residency at the University of the Philippines. - RL

2025-11-03T10:15:04Z