PATULOY ang pagsuporta ng PBA sa East Asia Super League (EASL) kung saan sinisikap nitong maghanap ng paraan para ma-adjust ang kanilang iskedyul at magbigay-daan sa pagdaraos ng inaugural season ng regional league na may bagong format.
Naniniwala si PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial na ang tamang pagpaplano at pag-iiskedyul ay magbibigay-daan para matuloy ang EASL ‘Champions Week’ na hindi masisira ang PBA calendar.
Target ng EASL ang March 1-5 bilang posibleng playdates ng inaugural season na magsasama-sama sa top eight teams ng PBA, Japan B. League, Korean Basketball League, at P.League+ kung saan ang Manila ang pinupuntiryang maging host.
Sa parehong stretch ay nagpapatuloy ang season-ending Governors’ Cup.
Matapos ang virtual meeting kina EASL CEO Matt Beyer at league CFO Henry Kerins ay tiniyak ni Marcial ang suporta ng PBA sa regional meet kung saan kakatawanin ng Philippine Cup reigning champion San Miguel at TNT ang bansa.
“I think doable,” sabi ni Marcial. “Adjust lang natin ang schedule ng San Miguel at TNT.”
Nakikipag-usap na rin si Beyer sa iba’t ibang league at team officials mula sa iba pang mga kalahok na bansa.
“Our goal is to bring everyone together in a path of least disruption to the domestic leagues,” ani Beyer.
“The format is different from what we initially conceptualized, but we believe it’s the responsible way. Our mission remains to create the premier basketball league and entertainment experience in Asia. Controlling variables and operating our season in the most responsible manner reduces uncertainty for all our stakeholders as international travel throughout the region rebounds incrementally.”
