The ABL

In case you haven’t heard yet, a new professional basketball league had their inaugural tournament opened two weeks ago. ESPN show the games live on weekend afternoons. Considering the league is in it’s infancy, fan support is wanting but the games have been above average.

The ASEAN Basketball League was launched January of this year. This is the first international basketball league in Southeast Asia which, according to their website, “looks to create a new sports property in Southeast Asia that will merge high performance sports action with family entertainment to engage audiences from teenagers to young families.”

The league, as per press releases, is also involved in developmental programs for children aged 17 and below with the purpose of discovering more talents, thereby ensuring the league’s existence. I think this is, more or less, the same battlecry as that of the long-demised Metropolitan Basketball Association.

Brunei (Barracudas), Thailand (Tigers), Malaysia (KL Dragons), Indonesia (Satria Muda), Singapore (Slingers) and the Philippines (Patriots) make up the teams. Due to large fan bases and a wider reach of the game, Indonesia and the Philippines will be allowed to field two teams in the coming years.

The tournament runs from October to February every year with a home and away format. The top four teams figure in a round-robin series. Each team is allowed 5 imports - 2 international, 3 ASEAN. Except Malaysia’s KL Dragons, the four other ASEAN teams have Filipino imports.

Brunei’s starting five, coached by Filipino Bong Ramos, has two Americans and former PBA players Francis Adriano, Don Camaso and Leo Avenido. Collegiate standouts Ricky Ricafuente and Axel Doruelo starts for Thailand. Al Vergara is the starting point-guard for Singapore. Rensy Bajar also mans the point for Indonesia.

The Philippine Patriots, handled by Louie Alas and Bogs Adornado is bankrolled by Mikee Romero and Tony Cojuanco. Most of the players are from Harbour Center and the only familiar name on the squad is Rob Wainwright.

This league is headed by Malaysian multi-millionaire Dato Sri Tony Fernandes, in partnership with Indonesia’s media giant E-Live Entertainment, SEABA, FIBA and General Electric.

Fernandes is the founder and CEO of Air Asia, the world’s best (kuno) low-cost carrier. He was educated at London School of Economics and had stints with Virgin Communications and was vice president of Warner Music South Asia. He was the first Asian to be recognized with the Laureate Award for the Commercial Air Travel category in March of this year.

With this guy at the helm, this league could rival the existing biggest professional basketball league in Asia, the PBA. Fernandes and his millions have also sponsored AT&T Williams Formula One racing, the English Premiere League’s Manchester United and the National Football League’s Oakland Raiders.

By the way, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore are the region’s football powers. If only we can direct and focus more attention to this “beautiful game”, we can be at par with the rest of Asia. For the meantime, damgo ug panuhot lang sa for RP football.

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For so many things we do everyday, we are governed by rules and as dutiful citizens (and husbands), we must follow the rule of law.

In sports, we play by the rules. We study, understand and discuss the rules. Sportsmen are ruled by rules. I make mention of two players having trouble understanding them. One needs consideration, the other needs to be banished for life.

SWU’s Eliud Poligrates, in my own unsolicited opinion, should be given consideration. Life is not basketball alone. He said he will go home to Camotes and plant gabi. Will gabi sustain Poligrates and his family for life? Give the guy a chance and let him continue with his basketball scholarship.

Burger King’s Wynne Arboleda is a headcase. He had Ron Artest, another nutcase, as a role model when he attacked a fan. Maybe he thinks he is high and above considering that his father-in-law owns the franchise he’s playing for. I say the PBA ban and blacklist Arboleda and have Bert Lina offer him a contract to flip burgers for the rest of his life. If that won’t suit him, he can go to UFC or URCC.

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