PBA games in Hong Kong?
That has become a possibility with Hong Kong Eastern Sports Club personally communicating interest to join the PBA as a guest team for the Commissioner’s Cup.
In a meeting with top PBA honchos on Thursday, HK Eastern said it plans to play half of its 12 elimination round games at the new Kai Tak Sports Park, while the rest of their schedule will be held on the road in Manila.
The Kai Tak Sports Park is a 10, 000-seater stadium that will be finished by year end.
Three of their home games will be slated for December, and the other three will be on January, if the possible guest team's proposal is approved. At the same time, it is also considering a home-and-away format for the playoffs.
HK Eastern was led by chairman Frankie Yau, sporting director Tony Wong, and team manager Oliver Lee during their preliminary talks with the PBA, which was represented by commissioner Willie Marcial, and Barangay Ginebra governor Alfrancis Chua.
East Asia Super League (EASL) CEO Henry Kerins and Philippine head Banjo Albano were also in the meeting to accompany HK Eastern, which has a desire to join the regional league as well.
Marcial has also appointed deputy commissioner Eric Castro to join a task force formed along with Wong, Lee, and Albano in relation to the possible guest team's PBA entry.
The PBA commissioner pointed out that scheduling will be crucial for the collaboration to be agreed upon, as the league will have a jam-packed calendar once the season-opening Governors’ Cup starts on August 18.
The conference will close on November 10, at the latest, and the PBA will then give way for Gilas Pilipinas’ participation in the November window of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 qualifiers.
The Commissioner’s Cup will begin either late November or early December, and will once again end before the next FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers window in February of next year.
The league, however, likes the potential of expanding its reach though the possible partnership with HK Eastern.
“There are limitless marketing and sponsorship opportunities for both the PBA and Hong Kong Eastern,” said Chua in a statement. “We're looking at the big picture and based on the Bay Area experience, this could start a new chapter in PBA history where East Asia becomes a major segment of our market. This is hand-in-hand with our EASL partnership.”
Singapore Slingers also in the hunt as PBA guest team
Meanwhile, the Singapore Slingers are also in the running as a guest team for the Commissioner’s Cup, according to the PBA.
The Slingers trace their origins to the Australia’s National Basketball League, as well as the ASEAN Basketball League, where they were one of the pioneer teams before the league folded last year.
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