THE Philippine Basketball Association braces for its first foreign guest team in more than two decades as the Bay Area Dragons are set to come on board in next season’s Governors’ Cup.
The Dragons, who are Hong Kong-based, will be composed of players from Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Chinese Taipei, are expected to arrive in the country by August of this year and will make Manila as their temporary home base as they compete simultaneously as well in the East Asia Super League (EASL).
The EASL is set to kick off its new home-and-away format by October.
The entry of the Dragons as guest team in the league’s 47th season was officially announced Monday during a virtual presser attended by PBA commissioner Willie Marcial and EASL co-founder Henry Kerins and Matt Beyer, who is also the league CEO.
Bay Area is the first foreign guest ballclub in Asia’s first ever play-for-pay league since UBC Thunderbirds and the US Pro-Am selection were seeded to compete in the quarterfinals of the 2004 Fiesta Conference.
Beyer expressed gratitude to the PBA Board for allowing the entry of the Bay Area Dragons during its meeting two weeks ago, which he and Kerins both attended to make the formal presentation.
“I am very grateful for the PBA and its support of the EASL, and for welcoming the Bay Area Dragons to the PBA. We’re honored the PBA is willing to host the Dragons, and we’re excited for what lies ahead,” said Beyer.
The Dragons are also going to be reinforced by an import standing 6-foot-6 and below as based on the current height-limit in the Governors’ Cup.
The team, according to Beyer, will be competitive enough to contend for the title.
“This is going to be half-national team level Chinese players. We’re going to have all of the top players from Hong Kong and we’re also going to have top players from Chinese-Taipei, who are coming into the free agency cycle from the P.League+,” added the EASL official.
Marcial welcomed the opportunity for PBA teams to take the measure of a foreign ballclub.
“Same system, same format, and they can be the champions of the Governors’ Cup,” said Marcial.
At the same time, the commissioner added the entry of the Dragons is a plus-factor for the league in many ways.
“This is a great opportunity for the PBA. Hindi lang sa income, it’s also for awareness and additional fans,” said Marcial. “Maybe the Chinese community will watch the PBA.” (RG)
