PBA seeks 2-year pact with Hong Kong team

MANILA, Philippines — The way is clearing for the PBA to sign a two-year contract with two-time ASEAN League champion Hong Kong Eastern for the team to play in back-to-back Commissioner’s Cups as a guest entry. While the deal is still being finalized, it appears almost done with PBA commissioner Willie Marcial talking terms with Hong Kong Eastern chairman Frankie Yau.

Hong Kong Eastern is one of two expansion squads that joined EASL this season with the Macau Black Bears. Once the PBA contract is sealed, it will mean Hong Kong Eastern playing in the Commissioner’s Cup and EASL concurrently as with San Miguel Beer and Meralco. Schedules are being worked out to assure coordination by PBA deputy commissioner Eric Castro, EASL Philippine head Banjo Albano, Hong Kong Eastern sporting director Tony Wong and Hong Kong Eastern team manager Oliver Lee.

The proposed deal will schedule all Hong Kong Eastern games in the Commissioner’s Cup here in the first year. But on the second, Hong Kong Eastern will host PBA teams in selected games. It will be the first contract binding a foreign team to play in the PBA for two straight seasons.

PBA vice chairman Alfrancis Chua cited the limitless marketing and sponsorship opportunities for both the PBA and Hong Kong Eastern. “We’re looking at the big picture and based on the Bay Area experience, this could start a new chapter in PBA history where East Asia becomes a major segment of our market,” said Chua. “This is hand-in-hand with our EASL partnership.”

In the 2022-23 Commissioner’s Cup, guest team Bay Area zoomed to the finals and in Game Seven, lost to Barangay Ginebra before a record crowd of 54,589 at the Philippine Arena. Two of Bay Area’s stars Glen Yang and Kobey Lam will suit up for Hong Kong Eastern.

Five Hong Kong national players with Asian Games experience are in the Hong Kong Eastern lineup which includes 6-5 Joshua de Villa, a Hong Kong passport holder of Filipino descent. Hong Kong Eastern coach is Bosnia-Herzegovina native Mensur Bajramovic who has mentored the national teams of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Syria, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.