EASTERN will be back in the PBA next season.
That is what Eastern coach Mensur Bajramovic understands as the guest team vowed to bounce back from their quarterfinal exit in the 49th Season Commissioner’s Cup.
“As I know, we have contract for two years,” said the Bosnian coach. “They’re already talking about this, how to fix this issue with the schedule.”
READ No SMB, Magnolia in semis for the first time in five years
Eastern, of course, did a balancing act in its Commissioner’s Cup campaign where the ballclub also played in the Hong Kong domestic league and the EASL.
The Hong Kong team finished with a 7-5 win-loss record in the eliminations and took the No. 7 seed in the quarterfinals before losing to TNT, 109-93, last Thursday to bounce out of the competition.
In his short assessment of their campaign, Bajramovic said he was right that expectations were high as Eastern was inevitably compared to predecessors Bay Area Dragons, which reached the finals of the 2022-23 Commissioner’s Cup before losing to Barangay Ginebra.
Bajramovic said reaching the quarterfinals was already an achievement, and the learnings that they gained were the most important for them.
“Our first season in PBA, analyzing it, we can say that I remember the time when we came here, (they are) comparing us with Bay Area. So I told you at the time we are not Bay Area, we are a totally different team,” said Bajramovic.
“Of course, we could do better… But we got experience. This is very important. Also for all of us, new rules, new competition. I hope we’re going to join even next season with the same competition,” said Bajramovic.
Bajramovic said it will be the call of management on how they will prepare for the next season.
“We’ll have a rest a little bit, and, of course, start to build the team for next season. We start to practice, of course. There are some young players we want to improve. (But) first of all, I think the club management should make all the decisions about everything. Then, we will have a clear plan to make everything about the team,” said Bajramovic.
READ Bajramovic admits playing in three leagues took toll on Eastern
Bajramovic is also happy how the team was treated by the Filipino fans.
“Thank you for your hospitality here and I hope to see you next season,” Bajramovic told reporters.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
