East Asia Super League (EASL) CEO Matt Beyer said yesterday the PBA’s participation is critical for the eight-team season to succeed and with FIBA’s support locked in for at least 10 years, the road is wide open for a “deep collaboration” to grow the game further in the region.
Beyer said he is now finalizing long-form agreements with Japan and South Korea with discussions on the involvement of “Greater China” to include Mainland China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong and Macau on the table. A priority is to secure a long-term relationship with the PBA. Beyer said he’s guaranteeing risk off the table in talks with the four countries, hoping to arrange a “happy partnership” built on trust and mutual benefit. The EASL will provide appearance fees, game bonuses, cash prizes and subsidies to entice the four countries to enter two teams apiece, the champion and runner-up of each national league.
Beyer said EASL’s goal is to become one of the world’s top three basketball leagues by 2025 and with a potential audience of two billion, it’s attainable. His timetable is by the third season in 2023, EASL will expand to 16 teams, four from each country, to synch with the anticipated basketball boom in Asia because of the FIBA World Cup to be hosted by the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia. “We want to be terrific together with our partners,” said Beyer. “We’ll grow together. We’ll create a positive ecosystem with a win-win relationship. Our dream is to develop a platform to develop better talent, to raise the level of competition in our continent.”
EASL’s inaugural season will kick off in October next year and will end with the Final Four in Macau in February 2022. Each team will play three home and three away games before the playoffs. Beyer said EASL’s schedule will not conflict with a country’s commitments to FIBA. He added that EASL will not overlap with the yearly FIBA Asia Champions Cup in September. “The FIBA Asia Champions Cup takes place over a week while EASL is a full season of 28 games over five months,” he said. “Travel time for away games won’t take long hours so it won’t be exhausting.”
EASL will allow each team to enlist two imports aside from naturalized players who are considered locals. “We welcome Fil-Ams or Fil-Euros to be locals,” said Beyer. “Whatever the PBA rules on the eligibility of locals, EASL will fully support. Part of our ‘Terrific Together’ philosophy is supporting our local league partners. In Japan, they count naturalized players as locals which we’re OK with because we follow guidance of leagues. The PBA can decide this designation and we’ll be amendable.”
SBP president, FIBA Asia Board member and PBA governor Al Panlilio welcomed EASL’s emergence. “I acknowledge that EASL is recognized by FIBA and confirm that the agreement is the league will have no conflicts with any FIBA and local tournaments,” he said. “The SBP will work with the PBA regarding which teams will participate. My sense is this is more for the clubs. I think any exposure to international competition will elevate the level of Philippine basketball.”
Beyer said he’s open to PBA champion and runner-up teams adjusting their lineups for EASL, clearing the way for the recruitment of Gilas pool mainstays, including naturalized players with SBP’s approval. “All interactions with the PBA have been positive over the past three years and we’re grateful for the PBA’s trust in building a strong track record of collaboration,” he said.