2016 Asean Basketball League Heritage Most Valuable Player, Filipino-Canadian, Matthew Wright and 2016 ABL Finals MVP, Filipino-American, Jason Brickman are set to make their PBA D-League debuts in the league’s Foundation Cup tournament set to start in May.
According to a report by Inquirer.net, ABL Champions Westsports Malaysia Dragons’ application to enter the D-League as a guest team was approved Monday night. Moreover, the team found a sponsor as the Ever Bilena group, headed by Dioceldo Sy, will back the team. With this partnership, the Dragons will carry the brand Blustar Detergent in their name.
However, the league set certain parameters in the team’s inclusion.
First off, their American imports Calvin Godfrey and ABL World Import MVP Reggie Johnson will not be allowed to compete in the league.
In addition, this campaign will not count in the D-League residency for Wright and Brickman. “Wright and Brickman still have to undergo the regular course of the (D-League) Draft, play seven games each in the two conferences required for them, before they can be eligible for the PBA Draft,” tournament director Eric Castro said in the report.
Even with all this, this will be a homecoming for Wright, Brickman, and Filipino head coach Ariel Vanguardia.
Here are some highlights of Wright and Brickman from the 2015-16 ABL Season:
Wright drops 41 against Hi-Tech Bangkok City
The Filipino connection
Brickman leads Westsports Malaysia to the championship
Photo by: Kuk Thew of ABL Images
