ABA launches global expansion program

LAS VEGAS, Nevada – The American Basketball Association formally announced Tuesday here the formation of ABA Global LLC, launching the league’s expansion covering America, Europe, Australia and Asia, including the Philippines.

ABA chief executive officer Joe Newman confirmed they have tapped Singapore-based Parmon Group of Filipino international financier Paul Monozca to handle the league’s global basketball initiative.

Monozca himself laid down their plans before ABA officials, coaches and some players during the ABA Summit at the Las Vegas Country Club.

“The ABA will now be having the World Basketball Cup featuring the best professional basketball teams in the world. The tourney will be modeled after soccer’s very successful World Cup. This is one of the primary initiatives of ABA Global,” said Monozca.

“There are so many great professional basketball teams around the world. The World Basketball Cup will be an opportunity for the best of them to compete in a prize money tournament on a world stage,” said Newman.

“We will be reaching out to leagues and teams in Asia, Australia, Europe, South America and Africa to participate in what we hope will be a very prestigious tournament,” Newman said.

In the same event, the ABA announced the staging of the ABA China Games mid-next year with ABA regular teams the Chicago Steam, the Kansas City Stars, the West Virginia Blazers, the Washington Raptors, the Seaside Seakings, the Seattle Mountaineers, the Lake Michigan Admirals, the Jersey Express and the San Francisco Rumble among the participants.

Barring conflict in PBA schedule, the Barangay Ginebra Kings, the San Miguel Beermen and the Burger King Whoppers may play in the China Games, according to Monozca.

Newly appointed La Salle coach Dindo Pumaren attended the ABA Las Vegas conference as the Archers are also looking at the possibility of joining some of the ABA Global programs.

Another familiar person gracing the ABA confab was former Ginebra import Roy Hammons. He’s retired from playing and is now connected with the ABA.

Newman said the China Games will count in the ABA US tourney and will also serve as qualifier for the World Basketball Cup set in Atlanta in 2011.

The ABA was acquired by the NBA in 1976 but original ABA co-founder Richard Tinkham, an Indianapolis attorney, and Newman re-acquired the rights from the NBA and re-started the ABA with eight teams in 2001. Today, the ABA is the largest professional sports league in the US with over 50 teams and still growing.