THE MPBL stands to benefit amid a rumored break in the relationship between the East Asia Super League (EASL) and the PBA.
Multiple sources have confirmed to SPIN.ph that there are doubts if a PBA team will participate in the upcoming season of the regional "by-invitation-only" tournament, endangering a partnership that was initially built to pit the best of the Philippine basketball against Asia's elite.
And the latest development from this massive shift?
The EASL, sources added. has approached the MPBL and the league's reigning national champions, the Abra Solid North Weavers, to carry the Philippine flag and compete in the coming season of the regional league.
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A source from the Hong Kong-based EASL bared that the league has long been looking at Abra as a prime candidate to be invited, seeing immense potential in the team's ability to compete at a high level, especially since the squad is heavily backed by a solid group of Northern Luzon businessmen.
Abra even beat the Converge FiberXers in a tune-up before the team plunged into action in the PBA 50th Season.
Meanwhile, the Abra Solid North Weavers camp has been mum on the groundbreaking development, maintaining that the team prefers to wait for the EASL to make an announcement, if any, about any new partnership.
“Saka na po kami mag-comment, let’s wait for the EASL to make announcements, if there will be,” said an Abra Weavers insider who requested anonymity given the sensitivity of the ongoing negotiations.
The Abra Weavers will be no pushovers against the heavyweights of the region like Japan's B.League powerhouse Chiba Jets, the KBL's Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters and Seoul SK Knights, or the P.League+'s New Taipei Kings.
The team is anchored by former KBL Asian import Dave Ildefonso, alongside DJ Fenner, JD Cagulangan, former PBA players Encho Serrano, Shaun Ildefonso, and Nico Elorde, as well as rising MPBL stars Drex Delos Reyes, Alfred Batino, Raven Gonzales , Mike Ayonayon, and Marwin Taywan.
With Abra’s well-known partnership with Strong Group Athletics, don’t be surprised if the Frank Lao-led organization will also tap into its deep talent pool and connections with foreign imports to reinforce the team specifically for the EASL grind.
Ultimately, the impending participation of Abra in the EASL should come as a highly welcome and inspiring development for the 8-year-old MPBL.
This bold move will finally open the doors for the regional league's homegrown teams to showcase their brand of basketball in top-tier international competitions.
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