New regional cage league launched tomorrow

MANILA, Philippines - Basketball bigwigs from six ASEAN members join forces in launching the first-ever professional league in the region – the Asean Basketball League (ABL) – at the Renaissance Hotel in Makati tomorrow.

Tony Boy Cojuangco of ABC-5 and Mikee Romero of Harbour Centre, who both represent the country in the board, will welcome fellow owners, officials and several players in the affair kicking off the new league, a home-and-away tournament aimed at producing new cage heroes in the region and at the same time promote the ASEAN brands in the market.

ABL and AirAsia chairman Tony Fernandes of Malaysia, media mogul Erick Thohir of Indonesia, several ranking officials from Singha Beer of Thailand, and officials from FIBA-Asia are expected to arrive today to grace the affair.

Highlight of the event is the unveiling of the league’s logo and introduction of the participating teams. Also taking part in the tournament are Singapore and Brunei.

Tournament officially starts next month in Singapore with the Philippine team, to be called Patriots, looming as the early favorite to rule the event’s inaugural staging.