By Patricia Bermudez-Hizon

I’m a heavy Twitter user.  For those of you who are not familiar yet, it’s a 140-character micro blog known as tweets which can be read by ones subscribers or followers.  These text-based posts have changed social networking as we know it, enabling the users to exchange information and ideas to potentially millions around the planet straight away.  

Twitter is used as an information tool, a business and technological support, and even a way to release pent up emotions.  It can be a window to someone’s life at the moment– intimate and instant.  It can be used for social responsibility or to increase public awareness.  In the political landscape, it’s been a medium for propaganda and a platform for integrity.   

One of the many benefits of Twitter is that it allows personalities such as Ashton Kutcher, Britney Spears, Al Gore, and even the grand daddy of the NBA Twitters Shaquille O’Neal and a long list of other NBA players connect with millions of admirers from all parts of the globe.

There are a number of PBA players that use Twitter too.  Alaska Aces have Joe de Vance, Brandon Cablay, LA Tenorio and even Coach Tim Cone.  Talk ‘N Text has Jimmy Alapag, Nic Belasco, Harvey Carey and Jared Dillinger.  Gin Kings Paolo Bugia and Erik Menk, as well as their assistant coaches Allan Caidic and Juno Sauler tweet their two cents worth.  In-laws and fellow Realtors Charles Waters and Kelly Williams, Coca Cola’s Wesley Gonzales and San Miguel’s Dondon Hontiveros are on the list as well as Elasto Painters’ Gabe Norwood and assistant coach Richard Del Rosario.

These PBA personalities tweet about practices, upcoming games, results, post-game take, and even personal views on just about everything – from video games, food, newest kicks, other sports and family.  You can learn so much by following these tweeps (meaning, the people who are on Twitter).  

Coach Tim Cone had tweets about the salary cap, Gonzales made known his transfer to Coke, Hontiveros shared his 5,000th point milestone, and Williams proudly announced the birth of his son Charles.  Norwood and Dillinger tweeted about their experiences with the national team, while Alapag has recently tweeted about their amazing comeback from a 30-point hole against Burger King and also their loss the next game to Rain or Shine.

The PBA also has an official Twitter page that keeps fans updated via live tweet which is a great commodity.  Even the coveror Solar TV has a Twitter page that reminds fans of game schedules and other programs.  

Like anything in life, there are drawbacks to tweeting.  I remember tweeting about Nic Belasco’s transfer to Talk ‘N Text and getting a call from his wife Mafae the morning after asking about the legitimacy of my tweet.  Apparently they learned about Nic being traded on my Twitter page.  I’m glad that it was a welcome development for the Belascos.  Sometimes there are serious repercussions to tweeting.  Some NBA players have gotten flack from their coaches for tweeting at halftime.  It puts to question their focus on the game.

So a few months back, the NBA came up with guidelines which prohibit players, coaches and other team personnel to access Twitter, Facebook and similar social media sites from 45 minutes before the opening tip till after they’ve fulfilled their obligation to be available to the media after the game.  There are no such rules in the PBA and honestly, there’s no need for it as of the moment.  These personalities on Twitter know their boundaries and are responsible enough.  They learned from the NBA anyway.

“The NBA had to take a stand when it started getting in the way of playing.  But how can we avoid a non-positive aspect of Twitter?  Do we have authority to impose ‘traffic rules’ on that?”  PBA Commissioner Sonny Barrios added that the PBA would like to be as liberal as possible but still with certain parameters in mind.

Despite the snags, Twitter is a potent instrument when used in a constructive way.  Commissioner Barrios simply sees it as “a powerful tool in terms of interacting with the fans”.  And fan interaction is one of the many things the league is seeking to improve on.  Up to this day Sonny Jaworski still is a basketball god not just because of how he was as a player but also because of his charisma.  People relations was an art form to him.  He won the hearts of all on and certainly off the court too.  

Except for the Big J and Alvin Patrimonio, I don’t see anyone now staying long after the lights of the coliseum have been turned off, signing autographs and taking pictures with admirers.  These two league icons didn’t leave until the last fan got to shake their hands at the very least.   That’s one of the reasons why they bred such die hards even to this day.

Of course it’s different now.  But we have more means to give the love back.

The PBA especially the teams should encourage MORE players to get into tweeting.  They can harness more fans, drum up excitement, publicize information, play up rivalries, and increase their marketability.  Players need not go through mainstream social media to get their messages across to their fans -  the lifeblood of the league.  

Imagine being able to ask coach Tim about being on top of the standings, or asking Belasco about the inconsistencies of the team.  Catch the tweets about Menk’s pre-game rituals, or just exchange jokes and frustrations with Gonzales.  Twitter has made the superstars more human, more reachable, more accessible, and honestly more likeable.   

You can tweet me through www.Twitter.com/patriciahizon for reactions and suggestions.