MACAU – While the emphasis remains on seeing the best of the best competing, the East Asia Super League is open to the idea of having other PBA teams such as Converge and Rain or Shine coming on board the tournament in the near future.
Henry Kerins, the amiable EASL CEO, said such decisions will have to go through the discussion of the league board, but added that there’s no harm in putting the suggestion on the table.
“We’ll all be preparing them and would be confirmed soon,” Kerins told SPIN.ph when asked about a post-season board meeting where the matter can be discussed. “But obviously we want to have the best of the best. Just like you see with Japan, Taiwan, and others.”
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PBA board chairman Ricky Vargas, in a sit-down dinner recently, raised the possibility of sending other teams in the EASL, specifically mentioning the Converge FiberXers, who just stacked their roster for the mid-season Commissioner’s Cup with veteran Calvin Abueva, sophomores Jonnel Policarpio and Kurt Reyson, along with two-time Finals MVP Mikey Williams.
There is also a clamor to have coach Yeng Guiao and the Elasto Painters take their act to the home-and-away regional league, which .
Rain or Shine once represented the country during the 42nd Jones Cup in 2023.
Incidentally, PBA board vice chairman Alfrancis Chua along with commissioner Willie Marcial sit as part of the EASL board, as per SPIN.ph sources.
In three EASL seasons, the PBA has sent San Miguel Beer, TNT, and Meralco, none of which has ever advanced to the playoffs.
The Bolts came close this season, but injuries hampered their campaign despite a stellar roster that featured former NBA player and three-time Best Import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player Justin Brownlee, Puerto Rico national team member Israel Romero, and top Iran point guard Sina Vahedi.
Meralco lost its final outing against Ryukyu Golden Kings that denied the team of a first ever EASL playoff stint.
The EASL features champion clubs and runner-ups from the B.League, Korean Basketball League, the Philippine Basketball Association, and the P. League+ when it rebranded to a home-and-away format shortly after the pandemic.
It has since expanded and accepted other champion teams in the Asian region like Hong Kong Eastern, Macau Black Bears, and the new addition in the champion team from Mongolia’s The League.
One drawback that has hurt the PBA campaign in the EASL is the two-import format as Asia’s oldest professional league has long abandoned the format.
Meralco has represented the PBA in the EASL the past three seasons and slowly but surely, has become accustomed to playing under such condition.
“I think the advantage that we’ve had is we know the league a little bit better now,” according to coach Luigi Trillo.
The Meralco mentor would love to have the Bolts back in the league for a fourth straight season, but doesn’t mind if the PBA sends other teams such as Converge or Rain or Shine.
“If there are other PBA teams that will be invited, we’ll wish them well,” he said.
The EASL hopes the PBA will likewise revert to sending two teams to the tournament by next season.
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