ORLANDO - Amid concerns raised by Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao and Luigi Trillo of Meralco over Bay Area's inherent advantage of having "Asian Heritage" players in the line-up, the PBA has agreed to have the Dragons make another guest appearance in the upcoming conference.
It's easy to understand the decision.
The Dragons are a good team, well-coached and seemed like a natural fit as the lovable foreign invader-slash-villain in our decades-long hoops show. And they also proved to be a mint at the box-office and helped the league set record-setting revenues last season.
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I can't wait for Glen Yang and his fellow "winged" hoopers from Hong Kong to razzle and dazzle the fans and lure those in hiding to come back and patronize the upcoming Commissioner's Cup.
I'm all in for the PBA to open doors to its neighboring Asian leagues. It should also do the same to its local counterparts. Let's just call that boosting domestic sports tourism.
Which brings me to my point.
WHY NOT INVITE THE PAMPANGA GIANT LANTERNS TO BE A GUEST TEAM IN THE ALL-FILIPINO CUP?
"Okay po kung guest team. Pwede naman para magka-break ang mga Kapampangan," Pampanga Governor Delta Pineda, who is also the head coach of the Giant Lanterns, told me in a telephone interview.
Gov Pineda is eager for his team and his players to get that golden opportunity to shine at arguably the biggest and brightest basketball stage in the country.
"Maganda yan at saka malaking tulong sa mga ibang kabataan hindi lang Kapampangan kung hindi ibang probinsya din," he added.
There is reasonable evidence to show that the Giant Lanterns will acquit themselves well in the PBA.
Led by Justine Baltazar, who averages 18.4 points, 11.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game, the Lanterns are on top of the MPBL standings with a 21-2 slate.
BUT THE GIANT LANTERNS AREN'T JUST A ONE-MAN SHOW
Encho Serrano logs 17 points and 4.6 assists per game while shooting 33.3 percent from 3. Archie Concepcion, meanwhile, contributes 11.7 points and 3.3 rebounds a contest.
Sure, they'll have their hands full against heavyweights from the SMC bloc and the MVP group, but I'm not prepared to believe that Blackwater and Terrafirma can hold off the Pampanga buzzsaw, either.
As for box-office appeal, well, the Lanterns are 8-0 at home at the Bren Guiao Convention Center. They don't just fill their 5,000-seat stadium, they overflow it.
Watching a PBA team go on the road to joust with the Lanterns in a hostile setting is must-see TV.
Kume Willie Marcial should print that invitation pretty quick. He can thank Governor Pienda later.
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