ANTIPOLO — Another guest team could be seeing action in the PBA soon.
This, as the Macau Black Bears have expressed interest in competing in the ongoing Season 50, no less than Commissioner Willie Marcial bared.
His disclosure comes after meeting with club general manager Lukas Peng, who personally paid the league’s office in Libis, Quezon City, a visit for the matter.
“Nag-meeting kami ng Macau Black Bears, si Lukas Peng, gustong sumali sa atin,” he said during the league’s resumption on Friday at the Ynares Center here.
Macau, which is currently playing in the 2025-26 EASL, would want to join the next two conferences and even the invitational tournament, according to Marcial.
The invitationals are set to be held during the 20th Asian Games, a period in which the season will be paused to give way to Gilas Pilipinas’ title retention bid.
If things fall into place, Macau could become the latest foreign team to join the PBA after Hong Kong Eastern during last season’s Commissioner’s Cup.
The Black Bears could also become the league’s third guest team in the last three seasons, which started with Bay Area back in the 2022-23 meet.
All that’s left for these to be finalized is the Board of Governors’ approval, which they’d be convening about in a virtual meeting soon, Marcial said.
“Kailangan masabihan ko rin ‘yung Board kung papaano, at kung anong mga dapat na hihingin namin sa kanila,” the league chieftain stated.
“Pero hindi naman nagkakalayo. Kung anong binigay natin kay Bay Area Dragons, ‘yun din ang mga requirements na hihingin natin,” he added.
Should Macau’s participation be green-lit, the Season 50 schedule will be amended as the PBA will have to accommodate a total of 13 teams.
Still, there’s no final word yet as it will all depend on the Board’s decision.
“Tingnan natin,” said Marcial.
“Siyempre, maraming itatanong ang Board–paano ‘yan, ‘yung players, at ano pa. Tingnan natin. Pero hopefully, baka [umayon] naman ang Board.”
