After surviving crisis, PBL opens anew on Feb 16

After weathering a crisis, the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) is set to unfurl its new season with 8 teams. Now on its 27th year, the Philippines' oldest amateur league will open the PG Flex-UK Derm Open Conference on February 16, said PBL Commissioner Chino Trinidad.

Trinidad thanked Pascual Laboratories and Asia Brewery for saving PBL for fielding two teams each after league contenders San Miguel Corp., Harbour Centre, Hapee Toothpaste, and Toyota Otis took a leave of absence.

“Actually ‘yung ginawa nilang ito, ultimate sacrifice. This is not only for the PBL but also for the players,” Trinidad said during Tuesday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s UN Avenue branch, Manila.

Under Pascual Laboratories are Ascof Lagundi and Parex B Complex. Playing under Asia Brewery’s banner are Cobra Energy Drink and Cossack Vodka.

The other teams are Add-Mix, Agri Nurture, Fern-C, and Excel Roof.

The PBL games will take place at the Makati Coliseum and will be aired through Basketball TV on Sky Cable's Channel 71.

PBL-Liga Pilipinas merger

PBL chairman Jappy Pascual of Pascual Laboratories, meanwhile, said it is premature to talk about the “merger” with Liga Pilipinas.

Liga Pilipinas is a regional basketball league sanctioned by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, the country's national basketball federation.

“It’s premature to call it a merger because we do not know what the proposal of Liga Pilipinas is,” he said.

Pascual, however, said the PBL board is open to anything that will benefit the league.

“If it’s a merger or putting up a new league or an alliance, we’re open to listening to all of the proposals and then we’ll make a decision as a board,” he said.

Officials of PBL and Liga Pilipinas reportedly met last week in Makati City to pursue a possible merger.

Source: Dennis Gasgonia  | abs-cbnnew.com