PBA, Korea OK Asian superbody

There seems to be no stopping now the PBA from expanding its horizons as it has reached an agreement with the Koreans for the creation of an Asian Super League and is about to meet leaders of the Basketball Association of the Philippines for talks regarding the formation of the national team.

The PBA entered into an agreement with the Korean Basketball League Friday night with both cage bodies looking forward to full cooperation on the development of both leagues and on the possible creation of a super league patterned after the European League.

The PBA was represented by league board chairman Buddy Encarnado and commissioner Noli Eala and the KBL by league deputy commissioner You Hee Young and SK Knights team owner Jung Tae Sao in the contract-signing.

"This occasion hopefully would mark the beginning of something big for both leagues and the Asian region in the near future," said the PBA commissioner, who broached the idea of the Asian Super League that could initially start as a tri-nation meet among the Philippines, South Korea and Australia.

"This partnership might have come a little late but hopefully it would work well for the realization of a good project in the region," said the KBL deputy commissioner through an interpreter.

Leaders of both leagues said they will sit down in a series of meetings to thresh out details of the program.

The PBA will have a separate meeting with the BAP as the national sports body has sought the cooperation of the country’s premier cage league for the formation and training of the national team.

"The PBA has played a major part in the Philippine national team in the past four Asian Games. It is our hope that the PBA’s support for the national team will continue in whatever way all parties may deem best for the national cause. We will be ready to sit down with you to discuss areas of cooperation as well as other matters which we feel the PBA can best provide or contribute," said BAP secretary-general Graham Lim in a letter to the PBA.

"In light of the recent developments in the sport of basketball, particularly with respect to the series of international stints of the Philippine men’s team, it is high time for all basketball bodies in the country to join ranks with the BAP in order to enhance and strengthen the formation and training of the national teams that will participate in future international competitions," Lim added.

The PBA commissioner welcomed this development which he hoped could lead to the drafting of a truly comprehensive program for the country’s participation in premier international tournaments.

"It’s a welcome development towards the formation of a truly competitive national team. We have always welcomed the opportunity to join ranks with all well-meaning organizations involved in basketball," said Eala.

He stressed the PBA has crafted a program which has been deliberated by the league’s board of governors and will be presented to the BAP in a meeting probably next week.

"It doesn’t matter where the meeting will be and who will be there. The important thing is we get to that table together and join ranks in a bid to get Philippine basketball back to where it used to be," added Eala who pushed for the restructuring of the PBA calendar to leave some months open for possible participation of the league in international events outside of the Asian Games.

"For the sake of Philippine basketball, the BAP looks forward to working with you again and with our other well-meaning partners. We know that you are one with us in a bid to move towards our goal of making it back as the best in the region and then putting the Philippines back in the world basketball scene," said Lim.