Is the Philippine Basketball Association becoming more open to joining other tournaments overseas?
It just might be.
It is possible that teams from Asia’s first professional league will see action in tournaments across the continent, such as the Asia League and the FIBA Asia Champions Cup.
PBA commissioner Willie Marcial himself hinted as much, as it was one of the topics discussed by the board during their meeting last Thursday at the league’s office in Libis, Quezon City.
“Tinitignan pa kasi si SBP (Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas) merong Asia [Champions] Cup, at meron din sinasabi sa’tin yung Asia League, baka sumali tatlong teams natin doon or two teams,” he shared.
“Tinitignan natin.”
Marcial said that the league might join both competitions or just either of the two – the Macau-based Asia League and the Champions Cup are both set in September this year.
“Baka pareho natin salihan yun or isa sa kanila.“
PBA teams were active in the Asian scene last 2018.
Back in July last year, the NLEX Road Warriors and the Blackwater Elite joined the Summer Super 8 to prepare for the 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup.
Blackwater could not make it out of the group stages; while NLEX ended up in fourth place in the eight-team meet after being handed a 62-67 defeat by Korean team Incheon Electroland Elephants.
Then late in September, the Meralco Bolts were the country’s representative in the 2018 FIBA Asia Champions Cup.
Meralco also finished in fourth place after Korean club SK Knights in the bronze medal match, 87-91.
