PBA teams puwede nang kumuha ng Korean, Chinese players at iba pang Asyano

SEOUL, Korea – Ang mga foreign players na kagaya nina Nikkhah Bahrami, Fadi El-Khatib, Sam Daghles, Anton Ponomarev, Kim Mingoo at Lin Chi-chieh ay malamang na mapapanood na sa PBA hard court.

Binuksan ng Philippine Basketball Association ang kanilang pinto para sa mga Asian players sa darating na season sa layuning makaakit ng mga Asian fans at ng Asian advertising market.

“The board agreed to try it for one conference specifically and exclusively for marketing outside the country and within the Asian region,” sabi ni PBA board chairman Patrick Gregorio.

“It’s another way of looking at the PBA as the No. 1 professional league in Asia,” dagdag pa ni Gregorio.

Ipapakilala ng PBA ang “Asian integration” sa season-ending na Governors’ Cup kung saan papayagan ang mga PBA teams na humugot ng isang Asyanong player na may height ceiling na 6-foot-4.

Ang mga Asian recruits ang mauuna sa mga regular imports sa paglalaro sa season-ending na Governors’ Cup at hindi pupuwede ang mga ituturing na naturalized Asian players.

“It’s optional. And why 6-4? It’s the average height of Filipino players,” wika ni PBA commissioner Chito Salud. “But it’s still tentative. Everything will be finalized as the governors cleared things with their principals (mga team owners).”

Kumpiyansa ang board chairman na ang kanyang panukala ang magpapalaki sa fan base ng liga at lalo pang magpapatibay sa PBA bilang No. 1 pro league sa Asia.

“Imagine if you recruit Korean players. I heard Korean population in the Philippines has hit a million,” ani Gregorio. “We want to showcase the league in the region. We’re reaching out as we target big sponsors in the region like Samsung and LG.”