EASL team to play in PBA?

MANILA, Philippines — PBA chairman Ricky Vargas recently opened the door for EASL’s Hong Kong-based franchise Bay Area Chun Yu Phoenixes to play in the local pro league as a guest with the idea of developing a closer inter-regional relationship to broaden marketing and player improvement opportunities beyond domestic borders.

EASL CEO Matt Beyer welcomed the invitation and said it would enhance Greater China presence in the PBA to build a stronger Chinese fan base for the league. Although EASL allows teams to play with two imports, Beyer said the Hong Kong squad will adjust to PBA rules which include a limit of one import with a height restriction.

EASL will inaugurate its season in October with eight teams, two from the PBA, two from the Korean Basketball League, two from the Japan B.League, one from the Chinese-Taipei P.League+ and the Phoenixes. The Chinese-Taipei and Bay Area teams will represent Greater China. For the first EASL season, the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) will not participate because of restricted border controls. But Beyer said he expects the CBA to join either in the second or third season. If it’s the second season, EASL will do a “mini-expansion” and if it’s the third, the league will undertake a “major” expansion from eight to 16 teams.

Beyer described the Phoenixes to be a “bad-ass” team. “We’ve received a lot of attention and interest from Mainland, Hong Kong and Macau free agents to enlist,” he said. “The team will be symbolic of the integration of China’s greater Bay Area, including Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong, a coastal province of southeast China bordering Hong Kong and Macau with a population of over 100 million. The team will be made up of former NBA and CBA players, among others and the coach will be someone who has won multiple titles in club competitions and medals in international tournaments. We’re planning a tour of Australia, North America and Europe to get ready for the season.”

Beyer said he’s in contact with the CBA commissioner almost on a daily basis to update each other on developments. “They’re excited to be included,” he said. “But we’ve got to be empathetic to their situation at the moment. When the Chinese national team came back from Japan to play in the World Cup qualifiers, they had to quarantine from 21 to 28 days. China is very serious about containing the pandemic because with 1.4 billion people, it would be devastating if the virus isn’t under control.  Hong Kong is more likely to open up quickly with its 15 percent international population. Sports is emphasized by the highest leaders of government especially with Hong Kong making history in collecting six Olympic medals in Tokyo.” Hong Kong took a gold in men’s foil, two silvers in women’s swimming and three bronzes in women’s table tennis team, women’s kata and women’s sprint cycling. Five of the six medals came from women.