The East Asia Super League (EASL) will formally present its proposal to the PBA regarding its new tournament once the latter clears its schedule currently crowded by its planned bubble project in Clark.
Asia’s pioneering pro league has been busy as of late now that it nears the resumption of its pandemic-halted Season 45 in a bubble to be mounted at the former US military base located in Pampanga.
“As you can see now, the PBA is extremely busy with the bubble,” said Blackwater owner Dioceldo Sy, who’s also EASL’s business development consultant here in the Philippines, in a virtual presser Monday.
“But I’ve already told my brother (Silliman Sy) who’s one of the governors of the PBA board that after this bubble, there will be a formal presentation at the next board meeting of the PBA governors.”
The league has already been aware of EASL’s new competition format, which will match up the top eight ball clubs from China, Japan, Korea, and the Philippines in a home-and-away group stage.
This new setup, which is planned to be launched by October of next year, will culminate with the Final Four come February of the following year to determine the champion, runner-up, and third-place finishers.
And by 2023, EASL plans to expand the competition to 16 teams. The EASL matches are slated to be integrated into the schedules of the participating professional leagues, such as the PBA.
The PBA had earlier said that they have been in talks with the EASL as it is clarifying if it could send either a select team or Gilas Pilipinas, as well as player eligibility rules now that it is recognized by FIBA.
“I’m trying to set up a meeting with our PBA Chairman Ricky Vargas, and I will try to talk with him on some pointers that I’ve discussed with Mr. Matt Beyer (EASL CEO) on our plans for the collab of EASL and the PBA,” Sy said.
“I want to assure the PBA board that we are doing our best. Me being the business development consultant of EASL here in the Philippines, we’re trying to do our best in EASL to give the best support and benefits not only for EASL but also for PBA and the Philippine basketball fans to witness the best of basketball here in Asia,” added the billionaire businessman.
Sy believes that the Philippines being all-in to EASL’s new venture would be beneficial for the Filipino cagers’ growth, especially given the fact that the country will co-host the FIBA World Cup in 2023.
“I feel that if we only play FIBA, it’s not enough,” said the long-time sports patron. “With EASL games coming in, it will boost our chances, our experience, our expertise because we’ll be hosting the 2023 FIBA World Cup here in Manila, Tokyo, and Jakarta.
“So this will be a perfect practice ground for our Philippine team to do well in the 2023 World Cup.”
