PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial is positive that Hong Kong Eastern’s participation as a guest team in Season 49 will soon be a done deal.
Both camps are still in discussions, but the amiable executive said that the ball club is “80-percent” certain to compete in the Commissioner’s Cup.
“Seryoso ‘yung Hong Kong Eastern,” he told reporters during the recent Media Day at the Le Parc Event Hall in Pasay.
“Tingnan natin kung ano pang mabibigay natin na mga parameters. Pero, mga nasa 80-percent na sasali.”
Marcial himself confirmed to Tiebreaker Times during the Draft last July 14 the report of South China Morning Post that Hong Kong Eastern is eyeing to join the PBA as a guest team as part of its goal to earn a place in China’s CBA.
Both camps convened last July 18, where Marcial and PBA Ginebra board governor Alfrancis Chua met with Hong Kong Eastern chairman Frankie Yau, sporting director Tony Wong and basketball team manager Oliver Lee.
The Hong Kong Eastern officials were accompanied by East Asia Super League (EASL) CEO Henry Kerins and EASL-Philippines head Banjo Albano. The team expressed its desire to join the regional home-and-away league as well.
Albano is part of a task force composed of Wong, Lee, and PBA deputy commissioner Eric Castro to iron out details of an agreement.
The reigning Hong Kong A1 Division champions are familiar to Filipino fans for competing in the 2018 ASEAN Basketball League with Christian Standhardinger as an import.
And they are actually one of two entities looking to join the league.
The other, as the PBA disclosed last July 19, is the Singapore Slingers. But the league, as of now, is looking to welcome just one team given time constraints, as the season schedule has been adjusted to give way to Gilas.
“Gusto rin ng Singapore,” Marcial said. “Tinitingnan namin pero alam ko pupunta sila sa Taipei. Pero gusto rin nila sa Pilipinas. Eh baka… one at a time tayo. Tingnan din natin kasi merong may gusto din sa ibang bansa na sumali sa atin.
“Tingnan muna natin. Kasi masikip na nga ‘yung schedules natin, tapos magiging 14 teams tayo. So ito muna. Tingnan natin. Dahan-dahan.”
Should plans push through, it will be the second time in the last two seasons that Asia’s pioneering pro league accommodates a guest team.
The 2022-23 Commissioner’s Cup saw the participation of Bay Area. The Dragons went all the way to the Finals before bowing to Ginebra in seven, with the winner-take-all drawing a record 54,589 fans at the Philippine Arena.
“Sana maging successful katulad ng Bay Area,” stated a hopeful Marcial.
“Positive ako na matutuloy ang Hong Kong Eastern.”
