LAPU-LAPU CITY – Brian Goorjian thinks PBA teams can compete in the East Asia Super League in future seasons based on the level of play they have shown over the years.
The Australia Boomers coach said PBA teams can go toe-to-toe with teams from Japan, Korea, and Taiwan in the EASL, and it is only a matter of how the PBA teams will treat the tournament.
PBA teams could win EASL
Goorjian said he was talking about his experience in the PBA when he served as the coach of the now-defunct Bay Area Dragons in the 2022 PBA Commissioner’s Cup where they finished second behind Barangay Ginebra.
“There is no doubt in my mind while watching the games that the Philippines teams could win,” said Goorjian, making the trip back to the country to witness the EASL Final Four and conduct basketball clinics.
“With San Miguel, Talk ‘N Text, these teams can come here and win. It’s just in the beginning stages and how much attention and how much you put into it,” said Goorjian.
The past two seasons of the EASL have seen PBA teams failing to make it past the group stage, with TNT and Meralco winning only one game apiece in their 2023-24 campaign.
Why PBA teams struggle in EASL
The EASL admitted a big part of the reason why PBA teams haven’t been as competitive is that other leagues have two imports during their domestic season.
But Goorjian said that even with that potential disadvantage, PBA teams have proven during the presence of the Bay Area Dragons, with the team having two imports albeit one being a reserve, can compete.
“You are allowed two imports, these teams play their domestic competition with two imports. The Philippines plays with one. That’s big. So when the Bay Area Dragons came over here and we finished really strong, I had Myles Powell and (Andrew) Nicholson the whole time, and that’s a huge difference.”
“And looking at the Philippines, their local players can play with anybody. I thought (it’s) the blend of the imports and how seriously do you take this. And I think when the Philippines comes in here and say ‘We want to win this, and we are going to take it seriously,’ and I think that is coming,” said Goorjian.
With the EASL now in its second season of bringing the champions of East Asia together, Goorjian thinks the presence of PBA teams in the competition is eventually going to come sooner rather than later.
“I think the Philippines is gonna take it more seriously, and when they do, they are going to be in this top four doing some damage. I really think that,” he added.
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