MACAU – The East Asia Super League is very much aware of the drawing power of Filipino players, more so of Philippine teams seeing action in international competitions.
So it isn't lost on the league that having a PBA team in the playoffs, or, better yet, winning the championship, will come as a major boost to the fledgling league.
Henry Kerins, the EASL chief executive officer, admitted not having a Philippine representative in the post-season has somewhat been a drawback for the league.
In the past three seasons since the tournament rebranded into a home-and-away format, teams from the Philippines have not advanced past the group stage, including this year when the Meralco Bolts fell a win short of progressing.
“Of course, are you kidding me?” Kerins said with a big smile on his face.
“I mean, you all know this. I don’t have to tell you. There’s so many reasons that will benefit us to have teams (from the Philippines).”
While the Bolts didn’t advance, the Seoul SK Knights of the Korean Basketball League made the quarterfinals and made up for the dearth in Filipino representation by featuring two-time PBA champion and former Best Player of the Conference Arvin Tolentino.
A sprinkling of Filipino fans were in the stands of the Tap Seac Multi-Sports Pavilion to cheer and watch Tolentino in action for the SK Knights, who unfortunately lost in their knockout game against the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots, 89-69.
The 30-year-old forward led the Korean squad with 18 points and stayed on the court for a few minutes at the end of the game to accommodate selfies and autographs for Filipinos in the audience.
“Here in Macau, there are around 48,000 Filipinos. And ninety percent of them love basketball,” noted Kerins, who is based in nearby Hong Kong. “So hopefully, next year Meralco, we would love to have them (back).”
Aside from Meralco, powerhouse units San Miguel and TNT also once represented the PBA in the EASL, but with less success compared to the Bolts.
Truth to tell, Kerins believes the Bolts were ripe for the playoffs until a series of injuries that hurt their chances, most notably the ruptured Achilles tendon suffered by import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
“Obviously, Rondae going down hurt them big time,” said Kerins.
Hollis-Jefferson was no longer around to complement naturalized player Justin Brownlee, Ismael Romero, and Asia import Sina Vahedi in Meralco’s final game of the group stage against Ryukyu Golden Kings which the Bolts lost, 88-79, to kiss their playoff hopes goodbye.
Overall, Kerins added the Bolts were unfortunate to end up in what he considers as the Group of Death, having been bracketed with Ryukyu and Taoyuan Pilots, along with the Macau Black Bears.
Ryukyu finished on top of Group B with a 5-1 record, followed by Taoyuan (4-2), and Meralco (3-3). Macau finished winless at 0-6.
“You know it was a hard bracket. And it was full, they’re (Bolts) 3-3. So let’s not forget that it is the best teams. Outside of the NBA and NBL, these are the best teams (Ryukyu and Taoyuan). So it’s a tough competition,” said Kerins.
Incidentally, both Ryukyu and Taoyuan made the semifinals, but failed to arrange a title showdown for the right to the $1.5 million prize money.
Ryukyu, one of two top-seeded teams, fell to the Utsunomiya Brex, 103-96, while Taoyuan stunned Alvark Tokyo, 102-76, to make the championship round for the second year in a row.
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