PBA to bring imports in for Invitationals?

Possible participation by an Australian professional team, a US-based Fil-Am squad spiced up by ex-NBA players and the Lebanese national team may force PBA officials to make the Asian Invitationals an import-laced tourney.

The PBA board of governors will tackle this suggestion in a meeting Tuesday, only a few weeks before the opening of the keenly awaited mid-season tournament on July 20.

"Formidable teams outside of Asia are the ones keen on coming for the tourney kaya paguusapan ng board kung gusto ba ng mga local teams na maglaro with imports," said PBA operations official Rickie Santos.

Six PBA teams, the Philippine national squad and three foreign teams will compete in the tournament. A cash prize of $20,000 is at stake for a foreign team that will win the championship.

The latest teams to signify intention to vie for honors are the reigning NBL champion Adelaide 36ers and the Lebanese national squad which is in deep preparation for the ABC men’s championship in China this coming September.

Others keen on competing are Canada’s Simon Fraser University team and a Fil-Am squad to be reinforced by ex-NBA players being formed by former Talk N Text coach Bill Bayno.

Santos said only the Yugoslavian youth team has been accepted so far.

"We’re still awaiting words from Korea and Japan. Mas gusto sana namin club teams from these countries para ibang flavor naman. Kaya lang yung Japan wala pang sagot maybe because of the SARS problem. Yung Korea naman, hindi rin maka-commit dahil halos lahat ng club teams nasa national team na ang mga ace players," said Santos.

The Lebanese Blu Stars and the Korean LG Sakers had expressed intention to join but backed out later.

No less than Basketball Association of South Australia Inc. chief executive officer Phillip Sanders, through US-based agent Mike Gonzalez, contacted the PBA for the Adelaide 36ers’ possible stint in the tourney.

Adelaide is a formidable team as it even finished one rung ahead of the Melbourne Tigers at No. 5 in the regular season of the recent NBL. It will be remembered that the Tigers split their two-game exhibition series with the RP national team last year. — Nelson Beltran