Pinoys produce SEAG hoops

It’s a testament to Filipino ingenuity that the Malaysia Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee or MASOC contracted TV5, the coveror of the PBA since 2011, to produce basketball for the 11-nation conclave this year.

TV5 Sports head Patricia Bermudez-Hizon, who started her career as a broadcaster in 1999 and is the only Filipino presenter in the London Speakers Bureau, said the other day that the basketball production team in Kuala Lumpur is made up of 100 percent Filipino manpower led by director Dong Capinpuyan. The coverage is for both men’s and women’s basketball.

TV5 was supposed to be the lead coveror of the SEA Games for the Philippines but a late switch by the POC transferred the rights to PTV4. TV5 later negotiated to air the men’s basketball games exclusively on its network channels. Women’s basketball stayed with PTV4. Both the men’s and women’s games employ Filipino broadcasters who commentate in Manila studios on an off-tube basis.

Hizon said TV5 equipment was shipped from Manila to K. L. and whatever else was required for production came from foreign suppliers. “We in TV5 take pride in our work and are thrilled to be recognized in the region for our incomparable ability to cover sports events, particularly basketball,” she said. “The passion of the Filipino for this sport is evident in the work that we do and the high level of understanding of the game and the ability to tell the story are assets that set us apart. Sports5 is truly world class and we are thrilled that MASOC is very happy with our output.”

** * * Hizon said it’s a lot of hard work for the Filipino production crew to deliver a quality telecast. But like the Filipino athletes battling for pride, the crew is also carrying the country’s colors with honor. “We have the responsibility to showcase the excellence of the Filipino through the work ethic, professionalism and talent that we have,” she said.

Hizon singled out Capinpuyan for his attention to detail in guaranteeing the quality of production. “Direk Dong has taken the lead for this project and has overseen every single detail to ensure that we deliver beyond MASOC’s expectations,” continued Hizon. “The ability to foresee what could potentially go wrong is important. Thinking two to three steps ahead is integral for the people we provide this service to appreciate it. He really has done a stellar job as the lead for Sports5 production.”

The team to Malaysia was carefully assembled to reflect the high level of production delivery that TV5 is known for. Doing interviews are Chuck Araneta, Denise Tan and Carla Lizardo while the production cast of Janice Endaya, Merv Villar, Dee Purugganan, Aleana Marzona and Jose Quiqui is a rotation of producers and shooters who also assist in writing and editing. In the studios are director Francis Jopillo, game producer Randy Victoria, slo-mo producer Ron Riofrio, production coordinator Tatie Choi, vision mixer Balong Pimentel and technical integrator Irco Corone. Administration head Dyana Garcia supervises the output for the SEA Games. Features are produced daily and aired fresh on TV5.

After the first day of basketball coverage, MASOC’s Mark Harrowell sent a note commending TV5 for its “firstclass” production. “Many thanks for your hard work,” said Harrowell. “Keep up that high standard.” It was a tribute to the Filipinos’ expertise.

** * * “All the effort is borne out of coach (TV5 president/CEO) Chot Reyes’ mandate to ensure that we remain dominant in sports,” said Hizon. “We’re very inspired by what he’s done leading the Gilas program so the word ‘puso’ also resounds to our Sports5 team.”

Hizon said more than the equipment or technical savvy, what’s critical in the challenge to deliver quality production is the ability to tell the story and make viewers appreciate the game and experience the excitement, sometimes the heartaches, of the competition, wherever they are. “More than updates, we delve into the character, aspirations and even struggles of the Filipino athlete to show how resilient and able we are,” she said. “These to us are important, too, because we need to champion the Filipino athlete who, we see, are heroes as well. It’s something we, as broadcasters, are very passionate about.”