Alab Pilipinas’ stint in the 2017 ASEAN Basketball League may have come to an end Friday night, but the neophyte Philippine club team will still continue to roll as they gear up for the next season.
Team owner Charlie Dy and ABL Chief Operating Officer Jericho Ilagan confirmed their commitment moments after Alab’s Game 2 defeat to the Singapore Slingers at the Baliwag Star Arena in Bulacan.
“We’ll regroup after Holy Week, talk things over, and start forming a stronger team for next season.
“It was a good learning experience,” Â Dy reflected. “We started late — we formed the team two weeks before the league [opened].
“I’m so proud of the team [that] they made it to the semifinals.”
As their plans soar high in the off-season, the Filipino squad is also hoping that two of their stars — Bobby Ray Parks, Jr. and Kiefer Ravena, a late addition in the semis — will continue to play for them even for just another year.
“We will talk to them,” said Dy.
“Definitely we want them back. We’ll see. We really have to talk to them. Hopefully they stay one more year.”
The tournaments that Alab plan to take part in are mostly overseas, according to Ilagan, the league’s Chief Operating Officer.
“Merlion Cup appearance; Seri Mutiara in Malaysia; Kadayawan Cup in Davao; and a possible Hawaii Cup. Tapos may inaantay pa si Charlie na Guam Invitational. Yun yung off-season calendar,” Ilagan shared.
Aside from those cagefests, Alab are also waiting word from a couple more tournaments — namely the William Jones Cup in Taiwan and the Super Kung Sheung Cup in Hong Kong.
“‘Di pa sure [yung Jones Cup] kasi yung Jones Cup, nagsi-switch from club invitationals to national teams. Baka this year because of the FIBA-Asia, most probably, national team.
“We’re waiting word also from Hong Kong Basketball Association if yung Super Kung Sheung Cup iuusog nila earlier. Kasi ngayon, parang January nila ginawa, sobrang pangit ng participants because after holidays, walang teams na makuha. So baka ngayon, baka agahan nila ng konti,” explained Ilagan.
As Alab continue their ambitions to become a formidable Philippine representative in the coming years, Ilagan believes that it will only help not just the team, but also the tourneys they will participate in.
“Everytime you have a Philippine team in any tournament, regardless if it’s an invitational cup in the Middle East or wherever, yung presence alone of the Philippines brings passionate fans to the game.
“And with it, competitiveness of the tournament,” said Ilagan.
